Presidency refutes Amaechi’s allegations on tax law

The Presidency has rejected former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi’s claims about new tax laws, calling them “egregious lies.”

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, responded to a viral video where Amaechi warned of serious economic consequences if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) remains in power after the 2027 elections.

He expressed concerns over the tax law’s impact on Nigerians and suggested that the government delayed its introduction to avoid voter backlash.

Amaechi said, “By January next year, February next year, all of you will be in trouble if APC wins. “Immediately after the election, APC will implement the tax law. The tax law is if I pay you 100 million Naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will leave your account.

“If you are a landlord and building a house, you will charge 25% extra because you won’t bear it alone; you will transfer it to the person who buys or rents.

“If the man who rented the house is a doctor, he will do what? Charge more. If he’s a carpenter, he will do the same…

“This affects everybody, not just you,” he added. Amaechi, who joined the opposition African Democratic Congress in 2025, also questioned why the government had not introduced the alleged tax measure before the election, suggesting it was being delayed to avoid voter backlash.

“If you say it’s a lie, go to your lawyer. Ask your son, if he’s a lawyer, explain to me what this tax law is. “Why is Tinubu not implementing it now?

“He’s waiting to finish the election so that you don’t punish him,” he added. He urged citizens to protect their future by participating actively in the electoral process, stressing that the issue would have far-reaching consequences for families and livelihoods nationwide. “It’s about you. It’s about your children.

“You will not have money to pay school fees… If you want to survive, don’t look at my face; whether you like me or not, it is immaterial. It is about your future,” he said.

Reacting, Onanuga accused the former governor of misleading Nigerians about the contents of the Tax Act.

“Rotimi Amaechi caught spreading egregious lies about the Tax Act. The former minister, governor, has really slipped so low, misleading people about the law,” he wrote.

“Is this blatant falsehood a foretaste of ADC campaign strategy during the campaign for 2027 election?”
The legislation, which took effect on January 1, 2026, has faced criticism from some quarters, with opponents warning it could increase the financial burden on low-income earners. Government officials, however, maintain that the reforms are designed to strengthen fiscal management and foster long-term economic stability.

Signed into law in June 2025, the reforms consolidate over 70 taxes, rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), and introduce taxation for digital assets, reflecting the government’s effort to modernise the tax system.(Guardian)