Catholic Leaders Call For Human-Centered Tax Policies

The Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have called on the Federal Government to ensure that ongoing tax reforms are implemented with fairness, transparency, and compassion, cautioning that policies lacking a human-centered approach could worsen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.

The appeal was made in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the bishops’ first provincial meeting for 2026, held at the Jubilee Conference Centre in Ibadan.

The communiqué, titled “Sustaining Hope and Strengthening Our Good Efforts,” was signed by the Chairman of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, and the Secretary, Most Rev. John Oyejola.

While acknowledging the government’s intention to reform Nigeria’s tax system, the bishops expressed concern that the reforms had sparked widespread controversy and anxiety, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.

“The reforms must be guided by fairness, transparency, and accountability. Government should give the reforms a human face and allow the most vulnerable among us the latitude to adjust to the new tax regimes before applying the full force of the law,” the communiqué stated.

The clerics warned that economic policies implemented without sensitivity could deepen inequality and fuel social tension, stressing that taxation should not become an additional burden on citizens already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs.

They also urged patience from Nigerians, emphasizing that such patience must be met with visible accountability from government institutions and tax authorities.

Beyond taxation, the bishops reflected on Nigeria’s broader socio-economic challenges, urging governments at all levels to recommit to securing lives and property, providing basic healthcare, improving infrastructure, and fostering an enabling environment for economic growth.

They criticized the prolonged strike by health workers, describing it as a situation that has subjected ordinary Nigerians to “unnecessary suffering” and restricted access to essential healthcare services. “This situation is tragic and unacceptable.

Anything short of urgent intervention amounts to needless suffering and avoidable deaths,” the communiqué noted.
The bishops also condemned the deplorable state of major road networks linking cities, particularly in the South-West, and accused some federal and state ministries of underperformance despite ongoing reform initiatives.

Reaffirming the Church’s commitment to social justice, the bishops encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope but to combine prayer with responsible citizenship, hard work, and adherence to justice and the rule of law.

“As pastors of souls, we call on Nigerians to resist cynicism and negativity. Prayer must go with good works. We have no other country but this,” the communiqué concluded.