The Presidency has dismissed claims by former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi regarding new tax legislation, describing them as “egregious lies.”
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, addressed a viral video in which Amaechi warned Nigerians of serious economic repercussions if the ruling All Progressives Congress remains in power after the 2027 elections.
In the video, Amaechi expressed concerns over the potential impact of the tax law, suggesting that the government was deliberately delaying its implementation to avoid voter backlash.
He said, “By January next year, February next year, all of you will be in trouble if APC wins. Immediately after the election, APC will implement the tax law. The tax law is if I pay you 100 million Naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will leave your account.
“If you are a landlord and building a house, you will charge 25% extra because you won’t bear it alone; you will transfer it to the person who buys or rents.
“If the man who rented the house is a doctor, he will do what? Charge more. If he’s a carpenter, he will do the same…
“This affects everybody, not just you.”
Amaechi, who joined the opposition African Democratic Congress in 2025, also questioned why the government had not introduced the alleged tax measure earlier, implying it was being postponed to avoid electoral consequences.
He added, “If you say it’s a lie, go to your lawyer. Ask your son, if he’s a lawyer, explain to me what this tax law is. Why is Tinubu not implementing it now?
“He’s waiting to finish the election so that you don’t punish him.”
Urging citizens to safeguard their future, Amaechi stressed the importance of participating in the electoral process, warning of widespread consequences for families and livelihoods.
“It’s about you. It’s about your children.
“You will not have money to pay school fees… If you want to survive, don’t look at my face; whether you like me or not, it is immaterial. It is about your future,” he said.
Responding, Onanuga accused the former minister of deliberately misleading Nigerians regarding the Tax Act.
“Rotimi Amaechi caught spreading egregious lies about the Tax Act. The former minister, governor, has really slipped so low, misleading people about the law,” he wrote.
“Is this blatant falsehood a foretaste of ADC campaign strategy during the campaign for 2027 election?”
The new legislation, which came into effect on January 1, 2026, has faced criticism from opponents who warn it may increase the financial burden on low-income earners.
Government officials, however, insist that the reforms aim to enhance fiscal management and promote long-term economic stability.
Signed into law in June 2025, the reforms consolidate more than 70 taxes, rename the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service and introduce taxation on digital assets, reflecting the government’s effort to modernise the tax system.
