Lagos APC: New tax law not aimed at overburdening the poor

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Federal Government’s new tax law is not a weapon against the poor nor an attempt to overburden struggling Nigerians.

The party decried what it described as a wave of misinformation, sensationalism and deliberate political mischief surrounding the tax reform agenda of the Federal Government.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the Lagos APC said the record needed to be set straight in the interest of truth, national stability and informed civic engagement.

Oladejo insisted that the tax reform was deliberately designed to protect low-income earners and create a more progressive and equitable system.

“First, it must be clearly stated that the new tax reform is not a weapon against the poor, nor is it an attempt to overburden struggling Nigerians.

On the contrary, the reform is deliberately structured to protect low-income earners, expand exemptions, and introduce a more progressive, fair and humane tax system that aligns with global best practices,” he said.

He added that contrary to what he described as alarmist narratives by the opposition, Nigerians in the lowest income brackets would either be fully exempt or experience reduced tax exposure under the new regime.

According to Oladejo, the reform focuses on efficiency, equity and accountability rather than punishment, accusing critics of spreading falsehoods out of ignorance or political desperation.

“The truth is simple: Nigeria can no longer run a modern economy on an archaic, fragmented and oil-dependent tax structure. For decades, the nation suffered from multiple taxation, overlapping mandates, leakages and weak enforcement — a system that stifled businesses, discouraged investment and rewarded tax evasion. This reform decisively confronts those failures,” he said.

Oladejo further stated that the reform would benefit businesses, especially Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), by simplifying compliance, eliminating nuisance taxes and creating a more predictable fiscal environment.

“For large corporations, it promotes fairness by ensuring that profitable entities contribute their equitable share to national development.

This is not anti-business; it is pro-growth, pro-investment and pro-Nigeria,” he added.