It’s only January, but Nigerians are sweating heavily, and it’s not because of the weather, but the Tax laws which were signed and passed last year, while we were booking Christmas rice and chickens for the festive celebration.
The wahala and questions wey full ground about the new tax law, no small.
But, to simply put, from January 1st 2026, every kobo that enters your account must wear a uniform and have an ID card to help you avoid unplanned billing from the Federal government, A.K.A Caesar.
From January 1st,2026, if your uncle sends you money from abroad, he will write ‘gift from village uncle’ as title, if your bestie returns the 5k you borrowed her since March, she would need to label it ‘reimbursement’; Even you, moving your own money from your Access bank account to your “Opay” you must title it ‘personal transfer’ or else the Tax man, Zacch Adedeji might say its income and demand you give ‘Caesar’ his own share.
From a very reliable but unreliable source - the akara woman opposite the Senate house, information reaching us is that the law circulating wasn’t the same one the senate approved, as the senate-approved tax was supposed to be for the rich men and wealthy like Dangote, but the circulating law affects everyone who has a job or source of income.
On the other hand, the Tax man has maintained that the currently circulating law would be maintained and enforced from January 2026, no suspension, no retreat, and no surrender.
Tax man has also warned that no protest or murmuring is allowed, and security agencies have been placed on red alert, to change it for anybody wey wan do pass himself (let End SARS no repeat itself). But, most Nigerians no want gbas gbos for now, but wan understand how this new tax law go take work for them and its benefits to them, right from the Iye down my street, Akenzua street and the agbero at Obalende bus stop.
@driver’swheels tweeted “how do we know the tax would benefit us as we are yet to see the results of the fuel subsidy #taxreforms ”
@smartmouth tweeted, “Won’t the tax collectors question it if almost all the money coming into my account is labelled gift? Another angle, some people dey bring into this is that Oga presido, T-boy and tax chairmo get plan wey other Nigerians no know, as both of them wear agbada from the same fashion house.
@Ekobadboi tweeted, “I am Omoluabi, but no be so we dey do, na OBJ dey represent us, no be this two”
@MayorofIbadan tweeted “Yoruba no too get stress na chop life we no like suffer, we no be slave riders too” After all is said and done, Nigerians being Nigerians, this tax matter that is serious is already used for cruise on social media.
@itshallfavormyfamilyandi tweeted “after carefully reading the new tax law to the best of my understanding, the only conclusion I can draw is that may Allah count me among those who will be required to pay tax. If you are exempted, e mean say things no really dey well for you”
@firstlady_beauty tweeted, “I should transfer you money for business/service and label it a gift, what would I report to the police if you run with the money?” In the middle of this whole wahala, Nigerians have, over time, shown to have ‘9 lives’. If we survived the overnight fuel subsidy removal and scarcity, cash scarcity, dollar exchange rate tripling and NEPA band A increase, what is this tax matter that we cannot chest?
We just hope and pray that ‘Caesar’ only collects what belongs to him and leaves to the people what belongs to the people (good roads, jobs, better healthcare, light and security).
As we move funds around this year, let’s make sure we label clearly ‘capital contribution’, loan’, ‘school fees’, ‘family support’, ‘gift’ or ‘refund’, because in 2026, even your bank alert needs a lawyer.
God bless our country, 9ja and we wey dey hustle inside am!
