Segun Showunmi, Ogun State PDP chieftain and convener of The Alternative Movement, has defended Nigeria’s upcoming tax reforms, dismissing criticism from the National Opposition Movement (NOM) as “shameless propaganda.”

NOM had described the reforms, set to begin in January 2026, as punitive and ill-timed, arguing they would burden households and small businesses already facing high living costs.

In response, Showunmi argued that Nigeria is following international best practices, pointing to successful tax reforms in countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, which expanded taxpayer registration, introduced digital filing, and strengthened compliance even during economic stress.

He criticized NOM as “recycled, past-their-shelf-life gangs of failed politicians” and stressed that opposition without credible alternatives is unhelpful. Showunmi emphasized that reform, though challenging, is necessary to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal framework and prevent future economic strain.

The tax reforms, enacted into law in June 2025 by the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, aim to simplify the tax system, broaden the tax base, and improve revenue administration.