Tax Law Rollout: Why Nigerians Should Exercise Caution – Budget Office

The Budget Office of the Federation has warned Nigerians against relying on unverified claims and speculation about the country’s newly enacted tax laws as their implementation begins on Thursday, January 1, 2026.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, affirmed the integrity of the tax reforms.

He warned that the spread of unsubstantiated information could undermine democratic governance.

The Budget Office stressed that careless amplification of claims from uncertain sources poses a risk to public trust.

“A nation cannot be governed by insinuation or sustained on circulating documents of uncertain origin,” the statement said, noting that public confidence, once eroded by speculation, is often difficult to rebuild.

According to the statement, authorities remain committed to transparency and accountability.

The Office stressed that governance and reform should not be stalled by unresolved conjecture.

The warning comes amid growing calls by the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume, the Nigeria Labour Congress, and other groups for the suspension of the tax laws scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Despite the opposition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has maintained that the new tax laws will be implemented as planned on January 1, 2026.