The Civil Rights Realities Enforcement and Development Initiative (CHRICED) has fiercely condemned recent alterations to Nigeria's newly signed Tax Act 2025, labeling them a "deliberate attempt to rewrite the will of the Nigerian people" through sneaky legislative tweaks that undermine public input. Executive Director Comrade Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi accused President Bola Tinubu's administration of surreptitiously changing key provisions post the June 2025 signing of the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) and three companion bills Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and Joint Revenue Board Act without parliamentary oversight or stakeholder consultation. Opposition heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi echoed outrage over "secret alterations," demanding probes and suspension, which the Presidency dismissed as baseless while defending the reforms' intent to streamline taxes, exempt small firms under ₦50m turnover, and boost revenue via digital assets and global nexus expansions.
CHRICED highlighted controversial shifts, such as VAT retention at 7.5% with broader zero-rating for essentials, progressive personal income tax up to 25%, a 4% development levy replacing niche taxes, and capital gains alignment to corporate rates at 30%, arguing these favor elites and multinationals over everyday citizens grappling with economic hardship. Zikirullahi warned that opaque amendments—allegedly inserting harsher minimum taxes, e-invoicing mandates, and worldwide income taxation for residents betray Tinubu's reform pledges, risking mass protests akin to #EndBadGovernance if not reversed through transparent review. The group urged the National Assembly to reclaim its legislative powers, freeze implementation set for January 1, 2026, and probe the "midnight changes" amid claims of executive overreach in consolidating outdated laws like Companies Income Tax and VAT Acts.
This uproar spotlights tensions in Tinubu's fiscal blueprint, praised by experts for modernizing compliance via PAYE overhauls and incentives like 5% capex credits but criticized for potential burdens on informal sectors and presumptive taxation frameworks. With small companies exempt and high earners facing graduated rates, CHRICED demands public hearings to align reforms with voter mandates, vowing advocacy to protect citizens from "tax tyranny" in Africa's largest economy. As debates rage on social media and streets, the clash tests Nigeria's democratic guardrails ahead of 2027 polls.