Senator says new tax laws shift burden to the wealthy, as reforms take effect January 2026
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s newly enacted tax policy, describing it as a progressive reform aimed at protecting low-income earners while ensuring that the wealthy contribute more.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today 21,January 2026, the Edo North lawmaker said the structure of the tax reforms clearly reflects the values of a progressive government.
Oshiomhole said that the facts on the ground show that President Tinubu’s tax policy is consistent with the values of a progressive government, adding that it places a higher tax burden on those who earn more, while offering relief and exemptions to those who earn less.
The former governor of Edo State, disclosed that he was among the lawmakers who supported the tax reform bill before it was signed into law, describing it as equitable and socially responsive.
He stressed that taxation remains the backbone of governance, dismissing claims that governments generate revenue independently of citizens.
He explained that governments do not earn money on their own, says Citizens earn income, and government revenue comes from taxing those earnings—individual and corporate.
According to the senator, the policy is deliberately structured to protect Nigerian workers, noting that most salary earners fall below the higher tax thresholds.
Addressing concerns about Value Added Tax ,VAT, Oshiomhole said the fears were exaggerated, explaining that VAT largely applies to luxury and non-essential items, not basic necessities.
“Everywhere in the world, people pay VAT on non-food items. Nigerians pay VAT abroad in places like America, London, and Dubai, yet resist paying it at home,” he said.
Despite public debate surrounding the reforms, President Tinubu reaffirmed in December 2025 that the new tax laws would take effect from January 1, 2026.
The president maintained that the reforms are not about arbitrary tax increases but about resetting Nigeria’s fiscal structure, promoting harmonisation, protecting citizens’ dignity, and strengthening the nation’s social contract.
