FG Blames Saboteurs For Misinformation On Tax Reforms

The Federal Government has accused some individuals of attempting to frustrate the success of ongoing tax reforms, insisting that the policies are aimed at protecting the poor while strengthening the country’s revenue base.

The allegation was made on Thursday in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, during the inauguration of a Joint Committee of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.

Fasua said the committee was established to tackle misinformation and disinformation surrounding the reforms, which he described as deliberate attempts by certain actors to sabotage government efforts.

According to him, the reforms are structured to shield low-income earners and small businesses from additional tax burdens, while ensuring that national revenue generation is properly recalibrated for development.

“People are trying to ensure that, maybe, if they can manage to do it, the reforms do not succeed. However, we must quickly say that despite this resistance, this is a pro-poor policy, a policy on recalibrating the revenues of this country that ensures the poorest Nigerians are not touched, except positively,” he said.

Fasua further stressed that the reforms were not introduced to impose heavier taxes on citizens but to create sustainable funding for infrastructure and public services.

He cited the partial opening of the Brass–Nembe Road as evidence of how improved revenue collection could translate into tangible development projects.

“Recently, the Brass–Nembe Road was partially opened. That’s the kind of thing that will happen when we get better revenue and taxes. Of course, we will also rely on the experiences of other countries, how they have done it and how they have fared,” Fasua added.