The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly refuted allegations that the Federal Government’s recently introduced tax reform laws are specifically designed to target the impoverished or to impose further financial strain on struggling Nigerian citizens. The party characterized the widespread criticisms surrounding the policy as a deliberate campaign of misinformation, sensationalism, and politically motivated mischief, orchestrated to mislead the general public.

In an official statement released by the state chapter’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, the APC clarified that the fundamental purpose of this comprehensive reform is to safeguard low-income earners while simultaneously establishing a more equitable and streamlined tax system, aligning Nigeria with international best practices. Oladejo explicitly stated that individuals within the lowest income brackets in Nigeria are either entirely exempt from taxation under the new framework or will experience a significant reduction in their tax obligations. He emphasized that the reform is rooted in principles of efficiency, fairness, and accountability, unequivocally asserting that it is not intended as a punitive measure.

“The reform is deliberately structured to protect low-income earners, expand exemptions, and create a more progressive and humane tax system,” Oladejo reiterated, firmly dismissing opposing criticisms as baseless, alarmist, and misleading. The APC spokesman underscored the critical necessity for Nigeria to transition away from an antiquated, disjointed, and excessively oil-dependent tax structure, highlighting that the nation has for many years grappled with the detrimental effects of multiple taxation, overlapping administrative mandates, significant revenue leakages, and inadequate enforcement mechanisms.

He further elaborated that the new tax legislation is specifically designed to address these deeply entrenched, long-standing systemic issues by simplifying the overall tax framework and considerably enhancing compliance across various sectors. Oladejo also pointed out that the reform is poised to yield substantial benefits for businesses, particularly Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), through the elimination of bothersome "nuisance taxes," the simplification of compliance procedures, and the creation of a more stable and predictable fiscal environment conducive to growth.

Regarding larger corporations, he added, “For large corporations, the reform ensures fairness by requiring profitable entities to contribute their equitable share to national development. This reform is pro-growth, pro-investment, and pro-Nigeria,” thereby portraying the new tax regime as a catalyst for economic advancement and national prosperity.