The Young Progressives Party (YPP) has faulted the Federal Government’s new tax law, stating that it would only widen the tax net and increase government revenue without accountability.

YPP National Publicity Secretary, Egbeola Wale Martins, in a New Year message, charged Nigerians to ask critical questions, demand answers, and closely scrutinise public spending.

“Nigerians must begin to ask critical questions, demand answers, and closely scrutinise public spending, especially with the advent of the new tax law, which is expected to widen the tax net and significantly increase government revenue.

“Increased revenue without transparency, accountability, and prudence will only deepen public mistrust and hardship.

“On the new tax law, the YPP emphasises that Nigeria’s major challenge has never been revenue generation but the reckless, wasteful, and opaque expenditure of public funds.

“Nigerians are not opposed to paying taxes; rather, they are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency, probity, and discipline in the management of our commonwealth.

“It is unacceptable for taxpayers’ money to be used to fund religious pilgrimages, purchase private jets and yachts, procure luxury SUVs for members of the National Assembly, and sustain the looting and frivolous lifestyle of a reckless political elite. We therefore call on the government to urgently resolve all discrepancies associated with the new tax law before implementation.

“More importantly, those responsible for the discrepancies, amounting to a grave assault on democratic governance, must be thoroughly investigated, apprehended, and punished in accordance with the law,” he said.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Martins called on Nigerians to mobilise themselves like never before to reclaim their power at the ballot in 2027 and vote out “incompetent, corrupt, and insensitive leadership.”

Furthermore, he warned against the weaponisation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies against political opponents.

According to him, the fight against corruption must be sincere, impartial, and devoid of political bias, adding that selective justice weakens institutions and erodes public confidence in governance.

In addition, he reiterated calls for a forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to unravel the disturbing mystery surrounding the unaccounted $40 billion reportedly identified in its records.

He observed that the staggering sum is almost equivalent to Nigeria’s foreign reserves and must be treated with the utmost urgency, transparency, and seriousness in the national interest. (The Sun)