Northern Pulse: Coalition rejects Oyedele, Adedeji tax agenda, plans protests

By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

The Coalition of Geopolitical Youth Associations and allied civil society organisations has rejected the new tax rejime, describing them as oppressive, predatory, and disconnected from Nigeria’s worsening economic realities.

This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.

The statement was jointly signed by Isah Abubakar the Convener, Coalition of Geopolitical Youth Associations and President, Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Olasunkanmi Kolawole, the Co-convener and President of North Central Youths Assembly of Nigeria (NCYAN)

The statement was also signed by Tochukwu Okoye, Secretary and National President of Concerned Ndibo Youth Movement of Nigeria and Abdulmajeed Olalekan, President of Odua Youth Parliament.

The coalition lamented that Nigerians face hyperinflation, unemployment, and fuel subsidy removal, yet fiscal policies continue to prioritise abstract revenue targets above citizens’ survival and welfare.

It held Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, responsible for promoting theoretical frameworks allegedly detached from the realities of ordinary Nigerians.

The statement also faulted Mr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, accusing the agency of abandoning growth facilitation for aggressive revenue generation that deepens hunger and inequality.

The group said the policies favour political elites and large corporations, while ordinary Nigerians struggle to afford food, healthcare, and education amid worsening economic pressures.

It warned that Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises face closures, job losses, and forced informality as punitive tax measures deplete capital and stifle local production nationwide.

The coalition, therefore announced a peaceful nationwide protests on January 27 and 28, 2026, in Abuja and Lagos, demanding immediate suspension of the new tax regime and adoption of consultative fiscal policies.

It insisted taxation must remain a social contract, not a death sentence, declaring that Nigerian youths would resist reforms they believe legislate citizens into deeper poverty.