The Youth Wing of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding urgent amendments to what it described as “controversial and unconstitutional” provisions in the 2025 Tax Laws recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group warned that failure to act within the stipulated timeframe would result in nationwide protests, including a taxpayer strike and coordinated youth-led demonstrations targeting revenue-generating institutions across Nigeria.
Addressing journalists at a press conference, the ADC National Youth Leader, Comrade Balarabe Rufai, accused the Federal Government and the National Assembly of bypassing democratic norms by imposing what he termed a “fiscal extraction regime” that disproportionately burdens young Nigerians.
Rufai argued that the new tax framework ignores the harsh economic realities facing youths, who make up a majority of the population, while allegedly shielding political elites and foreign interests.
He disclosed that ADC youth members had marched to the National Assembly on December 23, 2025, where they submitted a petition outlining their objections to the tax laws. According to him, the legislature’s failure to respond amounted to arrogance and a neglect of its constitutional duty.
The youth wing claimed that a forensic review of the 2025 tax framework revealed three major “betrayals,” including provisions allegedly inserted without proper legislative debate or approval.
Among the contentious clauses are Section 41(8), which mandates taxpayers to deposit 20 per cent of disputed assessments before filing appeals, and Section 60, which the group claims empowers tax officials to make arrests.
“These provisions never passed through plenary debate or voting. This is black-market legislation and a direct assault on constitutional governance,” Rufai stated.
The group also raised alarm over a memorandum of understanding reportedly signed on December 10, 2025, between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and France’s Direction Générale des Finances Publiques (DGFIP). According to the ADC Youth Wing, the agreement poses national security risks by potentially exposing sensitive financial and biometric data, including BVN- and NIN-linked information, to foreign entities.
Additionally, the group criticised what it described as misplaced fiscal priorities, noting that the Ministry of Youth Development received an allocation of N14 billion, while significantly larger sums were earmarked for recurrent spending and “vanity projects.”
The ADC Youth Wing warned that the new tax regime could cripple youth-led small and medium-scale enterprises, worsening unemployment and poverty across the country.
Among its demands are the immediate suspension of the 2025 Tax Acts, withdrawal of what it called “forged gazettes,” restoration of the version of the bill passed by the National Assembly, annulment of the FIRS–France agreement, removal of the 20 per cent tax appeal deposit requirement, and the scrapping of arrest powers for tax officials.
Rufai said the Federal Government has until January 3, 2026, to respond.
“If this ultimatum expires without meaningful action, we will move from dialogue to legitimate national resistance,” he warned, adding that the ADC Youth Wing is prepared to mobilise youths nationwide for coordinated protests and civil action.
