The Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, has alerted security agencies over reports of planned protests against the newly implemented tax laws.
Adedeji issued the warning on Sunday during an interview on Arise Television, stating that the calls for protests were largely driven by misinformation and misrepresentation of the tax reforms.
He urged Nigerians to study the new tax laws and understand how the changes affect them personally, rather than relying on rumours or narratives circulating on social media.
“The message to Nigerians is simple: don’t listen to rumours. Analyse the data as it affects you and wait to see the results, not mass or mob action,” he said.
The NRS boss dismissed calls for the suspension of the tax laws, describing such demands as unconstitutional. According to him, laws passed by the National Assembly cannot be suspended by individuals or pressure groups, except under clearly defined emergency conditions.
He explained that the tax reform bills went through extensive consultations before becoming law, including public hearings at the National Assembly that lasted more than six months.
Adedeji added that concerns about the laws could only be addressed through amendments, not suspension.
Ruling out any pause in implementation, he said the reforms had already taken effect and were beginning to show early results, despite growing agitation for protests.
“I am using this opportunity to call on all security agencies to be on alert,” he said.
He argued that the planned protests were unlikely to be driven by poor Nigerians, whom the reforms are designed to protect, but by individuals opposed to the policy’s objectives.
The new tax laws took effect on January 1, alongside the unveiling of the new corporate identity of the Nigeria Revenue Service, formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service, amid mixed reactions across the country.
