The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over what it described as “controversial and unconstitutional provisions” in the 2025 Tax Laws recently assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The group warned that failure by the government to address its demands within the stipulated period would trigger nationwide actions, including a taxpayer strike and mass youth-led protests targeting revenue-generating institutions across the country.

Speaking at a press conference, the ADC National Youth Leader, Comrade Balarabe Rufai, accused the Federal Government and the National Assembly of undermining democratic processes by imposing what he termed a “fiscal extraction regime” on Nigerians, particularly young people.

Rufai said the new tax framework failed to reflect the economic realities facing youths, who constitute a significant portion of the population, while allegedly protecting the interests of the political elite and foreign partners.

According to him, members of the ADC Youth Wing marched to the National Assembly on December 23, 2025, where they submitted a formal petition detailing their objections to the tax laws.

He alleged that the legislature had yet to respond, describing the silence as “arrogant” and an abdication of its constitutional responsibility.

The group claimed that a forensic review of the 2025 tax framework uncovered three major “betrayals,” including provisions it said were inserted without proper legislative approval.

Among these are Section 41(8), which requires taxpayers to deposit 20 per cent of disputed tax assessments before filing appeals, and Section 60, which allegedly grants arrest powers to tax officials.

“These clauses were not subjected to plenary debate or voting. This is black-market legislation and a direct assault on constitutional governance,” Rufai said.

The ADC Youth Wing also raised concerns over a memorandum of understanding reportedly signed on December 10, 2025, between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFIP).

The group alleged that the agreement poses a national security risk by exposing sensitive financial and biometric data, including BVN- and NIN-linked information, to foreign interests under the guise of technical assistance.

In addition, the group criticised what it described as skewed fiscal priorities, noting that while the Ministry of Youth Development was allocated N14 billion, larger sums were allegedly set aside for “vanity projects” and recurrent expenditures.

It warned that the new tax regime could stifle youth-led small and medium-scale enterprises, worsening unemployment and poverty.

As part of its demands, the ADC Youth Wing called for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the 2025 Tax Acts, withdrawal of what it termed “forged gazettes,” and restoration of the version of the bill passed by the National Assembly.

It also demanded the annulment of the FIRS–France agreement, removal of the 20 per cent deposit requirement for tax appeals, and the scrapping of any provision granting arrest powers to tax officials.

Rufai said the group had given the Federal Government until January 3, 2026, to take corrective action.

“Should this ultimatum expire without a meaningful response, we will move from dialogue to legitimate national resistance,” he warned, adding that the ADC Youth Wing was prepared to mobilise youths nationwide for coordinated protests and other actions. (Nigerian Tribune)

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