Students Declare January 14 ‘Day of Action’ to Protest Tinubu’s New Tax Laws

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced January 14, 2026, as a National Day of Action and called for a nationwide protest against the newly implemented tax reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. The student body is mobilising members across Nigeria to converge in Abuja for what it describes as a peaceful mass demonstration demanding changes to the controversial tax regime.

The protest plans come after the government began implementing the Tax Reform Law on January 1, despite concerns from various stakeholders over alleged discrepancies between the version passed by the National Assembly and the copies that were gazetted. Critics, including labour unions, lawyers, and opposition lawmakers, have called for a suspension of the rollout until the issues are clarified.

NANS President Olushola Oladoja criticised the Tinubu administration for proceeding with the law without fully addressing public objections, calling the move premature and anti‑democratic. He urged all student chapters to begin preparations for the rally that will culminate at the Presidential Villa Gate, with Unity Fountain as the meeting point. The students’ core demand remains the immediate suspension of the tax law’s implementation.

In addition to student mobilisation, legal experts have warned that the tax laws could face further legal challenges unless the government releases clear and verified versions of the legislation and resolves ongoing controversies around its legitimacy. The protest underscores growing public dissatisfaction with the new tax measures, which many Nigerians see as a burden amid existing economic hardships.