How we convinced NANS to call off protest, back tax laws – Oyedele

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

Taiwo Oyedele, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has explained how how leaders of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) were convinced to drop their plans to embark on nationwide protests over tax reforms of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

NANS, like some other groups had threatened to lead Nigerians to the streets in protest against the tax laws that came into effect on January 1, 2026.

But the students’ The body had on Tuesday announced its support for the tax laws while calling off its nationwide protest scheduled for 14th January, 2026.

NAN in a communique issued at an expanded National Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday in Abuja and signed by the Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee and NANS President, Comr. Olushola Oladoja, said its decision followed its engagements with officials of the National Assembly, Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) among others

Oyedele who also attended the expanded NEC meeting of NANS said the students’ body was convinced to drop its opposition to the tax laws following explanations of the rationale for the reforms, their core objectives, and the benefits that students and all young Nigerians will derive from them.

“We highlighted how the reforms reduce the tax burden on average Nigerians and remove tax-related barriers to opportunities such as business process outsourcing (BPO) and other emerging sectors for young people,” Oyedele said.

He added that following the explanations, the students commended the thoughtfulness of the reforms “and welcomed the clarity that the reforms are not designed to target the poor, but to provide relief and opportunity contrary to the widespread misinformation.”

He added that following the engagement, the students resolved to call off their planned protest scheduled for 14 January 2026.

Instead of protests, NANS resolved to collaborate with the government to sensitise students and other citizens nationwide on the tax laws, Oyedele added.

“Constructive dialogue works. Collaboration not confrontation. Nigeria is winning,” he concluded.

–