Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has accused the Tinubu administration of holding back the implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws for political reasons, warning that Nigerians could face tougher tax enforcement if the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins another term in 2027.
Titiansloaded reports that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate made the allegation while addressing party supporters at the inauguration of the party’s campaign council in Dutse, Jigawa State.
Kwankwaso claimed that although the tax reform legislation had been passed, the Federal Government was reluctant to begin full implementation because of concerns about its possible impact on the APC’s electoral prospects.
“The bill has been passed into law, but the Federal Government is now afraid of losing the election. That is why it has delayed the collection,” he said.
He warned that the government could adopt more aggressive methods of collecting taxes if President Bola Tinubu secures re-election.
“As soon as they get a second chance, God forbid, Nigerians will suffer from different kinds of tax collection. They will start going from house to house, checking even under your bed to collect taxes,” he added.
The former Kano State governor also alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio deliberately stayed away from the legislative session when the tax reform bills were approved to avoid being associated with the decision.
Kwankwaso promised that an NDC government would review and abolish taxes the party considers unnecessary. He also pledged to improve access to quality education and provide support for children’s schooling.
The NDC vice-presidential candidate urged voters to reject another APC mandate, arguing that the party’s return to power would worsen the difficulties facing Nigerians.
Separately, the opposition party has criticised the Tinubu administration’s borrowing record and questioned how additional government revenue, particularly funds generated following the removal of petrol subsidy, has been utilised.
In a statement responding to Tinubu’s recent remarks about Peter Obi’s record on erosion control in Anambra State, NDC National Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Dr Chiogo Constance Ikokwu, said the party’s presidential candidate and Kwankwaso were focused on broader economic concerns.
Tinubu had criticised Obi during an APC rally in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, comparing the former Anambra governor’s handling of erosion challenges with his own record in Lagos, where he said he confronted the Atlantic Ocean.
Ikokwu argued that the debate should extend beyond environmental issues to include the management of public finances. She questioned why increased government revenue had not translated into stronger funding for essential sectors such as healthcare and education.
She also pointed to persistent poverty, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power, demanding greater transparency over the use of public funds.
To support its criticism, the NDC compared the financial records of Obi and Tinubu during their respective periods as governors of Anambra and Lagos states.
According to Ikokwu, Obi left investments valued at about $500 million when he completed his tenure in Anambra in 2014. She also cited $156 million in dollar-denominated bonds, alongside other local and foreign currency holdings.
On Lagos, she referred to Debt Management Office figures which she said placed the state’s external debt at approximately $190.43 million at the end of 2007, when Tinubu left office.
The party also faulted the pension arrangement introduced during Tinubu’s administration in Lagos, which it said granted former governors and their deputies extensive lifetime benefits.
The listed entitlements included pensions equivalent to the sitting governor’s basic salary, residential properties in Lagos and Abuja, official vehicles, furniture and utility allowances, medical care, house maintenance and domestic staff.
Ikokwu described the package as excessive, noting that a subsequent administration reviewed the arrangement. She also claimed that Obi did not introduce a comparable pension scheme for former governors in Anambra.
The NDC said its proposed Obi-Kwankwaso administration would prioritise accountability, productive investment and improved public welfare, while moving away from what it described as excessive reliance on borrowing.
