Title: Labour Threatens Revolt as Tax Reforms Take Off In Four Days Date Published: 28 December 2025 Description: Manufacturers Back Overhaul Amid Controversy and Concerns Over ImplementationWith just four days to the scheduled commencement of Nigeria’s newly enacted tax reforms on January 1, 2026, tensions are rising among labour unions, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), and industry stakeholders.The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to revolt against the implementation of the new laws, citing exclusion from the drafting process and insufficient public sensitisation. Benson Upah, the NLC spokesperson, described the development as a “clear affront” to workers, who constitute the country’s largest tax-paying group.“At the level of the congress, we do not even know what these laws contain. There has been no public enlightenment directed at the NLC or the labour community. The right to know what is going on is not a privilege; it is a right,” Upah said.The union also raised concerns over the proposed introduction of tax agents, describing the plans as “totally opaque” and warning that a lack of transparency in tax collection and utilisation could spark a broader citizen revolt.A senior NLC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, went further to call for the total scrapping of the laws, accusing the Federal Government of sidelining workers and other critical stakeholders during the legislative process.Meanwhile, small and medium-scale business operators, alongside the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria, have urged a suspension of the reforms, citing inadequate stakeholder engagement and limited awareness of the new system.In contrast, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) expressed support for the reforms, describing them as beneficial to the industrial sector. The association believes the overhaul will streamline tax processes and improve compliance across the manufacturing industry.Defending the reforms, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, warned that any delay in implementation could exacerbate the cost of living. “Delaying these reforms will push up the prices of basic goods and services, including food, healthcare, and education, while keeping workers and small businesses overtaxed,” Oyedele said.The new tax regime, described by the government as the most comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades, became law on June 26, 2025, when President Bola Tinubu signed four major bills: the Nigeria Tax Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act. All four laws operate under the unified Nigeria Revenue Service.The legislation has recently come under scrutiny after Abdussamad Dasuki, a member of the House of Representatives (PDP, Sokoto), alleged discrepancies between the versions debated in the National Assembly and the copies gazetted for public circulation. Dasuki insisted the gazetted texts do not reflect what lawmakers passed.Upah reiterated that labour’s exclusion from the tax reform committee was a significant oversight. “We are the largest tax-paying community in the country. How can anybody shave our head in our absence? Our input was necessary,” he said, stressing that transparency in tax collection and usage is crucial for public acceptance.As the countdown to January 1 continues, the Federal Government faces mounting pressure to balance the implementation of these reforms with demands for public enlightenment, stakeholder engagement, and clarity on the laws’ practical impact on workers and businesses. Attached Images: 4b1698b937ecb4081e7548b67c6628cb09c4d1cd249c7bd1601c3de116b6d268.png Attached Video: None