A former two-term governor of River State,
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has exposed the hidden secrets delaying the implementation of the new Fiscal Framework: Key Provisions of Nigeria’s 2025 tax reform laws by President Bola Tinubu ahead of the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday December 30th 2025, set aside the implementation of the tax laws, which had generated fierce debates over allegations that the gazette copies differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly, was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
The debate followed concerns raised by some prominent Nigerians and groups and associations,. including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), had called for the suspension of the implementation.
But Amaechi alleged in a viral video while addressing traders, alleged that Nigerians will be in trouble if the ruling All Progressives Congress wins the poll.
He stated that Tax laws have been suspended until after the elections so that he won’t be punished, urging Nigerians particularly the electorate to be wary about the manipulation.
He stated that more worrisome is that taxes paid by Nigerians that go into private pockets of the ruling class remain uncounted for, while poor hapless Nigerians are made to bear the tax burden.
He further claimed that those who supported Tinubu in 2023, including prominent leaders such as former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, Badaru Abubakar, and others, have all been removed from influential positions by the President.
“It’s simple. By February next year, all of you will be in trouble if APC wins. Go and check, there’s a tax law. Ask Tinubu: why is the tax law not being implemented?
“Immediately after the election, APC will implement the tax law. The law states that if I pay you 100 million naira for your building materials, automatically 25 million will be deducted from your account.
If you say it’s a lie, take my statement to your lawyer. Tell your lawyer: give me the tax law and explain it to me. I am a lawyer.”
“Why hiding the tax law, if true? For every ₦100 million transaction you make, Tinubu will take ₦25 million. Tax laws have been suspended until after the elections so that he won’t be punished”, according to his prediction, “If Nigerians vote Tinubu again, the tax laws will be implemented and citizens will suffer the full impact”.
How does this everybody? If I come and I am a landlord – building a house, and you charge me 25 percent, you won’t bear the tax burden alone, the tax will be transfered to everybody.
“If a medical doctor rents the house, he will put an additional charges of 25 percent on the patient before he renders his service. If he is a carpenter, he will put an additional 25 percent percent before he renders his service.
“I do not even mind the tax; what I mind is that even after payment of the tax, the money goes into private pockets. Take your destiny and protect your future. Go and vote. When you vote, don’t got home”, he said.
“If Tinubu says that he is a hero, let him implement the law now. If he implements the law, he will not even contest the 2027 elections. If he implements the law now, his brothers and sisters won’t vote him. They will vote for us.
“But he has kept the implementation of the tax law aside, wanting you to vote for him in 2027. Then if you are lucky, the law will come, then, you people will start crying, and I will start laughing”, Amaechi alleged.
Really?