Public Outcry as Tinubu’s New Tax ID Sparks Fear of Hardship: Nigerians Warn FG Against TIN Implementation

A fresh wave of discontent is sweeping across the country as Nigerians raise alarm over the Federal Government’s introduction of a new Tax Identification Number (TIN) regime under the recently signed Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA).

The Act, which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law on June 26, 2025, makes it mandatory for every citizen and business to obtain a TIN for all financial transactions beginning January 2026. The government insists the reform is aimed at modernising tax collection, boosting revenue, and strengthening accountability by complementing the already existing National Identification Number (NIN).

But rather than celebration, the development has been met with widespread anxiety, skepticism, and outright rejection by many Nigerians who fear it could further choke households already struggling under rising inflation and economic hardship.

Speaking with Blueprint, some Nigerians voiced their concerns in strong terms.

Mr. Alhassan Umar, a trader, dismissed the policy as “another avenue for government oppression,” warning that compulsory TIN would only burden ordinary citizens. “The government should be reducing VAT, not forcing more taxes on people who barely eat twice a day. TIN should be scrapped,” he fumed.

Mrs. Agnes, a civil servant, was equally unsparing. She argued that tax reforms should target the wealthy elite and big corporations, not the common man. “Why must it always be the poor that carry the weight of government policies?” she asked.

For Mr. Anthony, another civil servant, the fear is not just about taxation but about fairness. He urged the government to ensure that if the TIN must stand, it must apply to all Nigerians without exceptions, including political office holders and influential elites.

Analysts warn that while tax reforms are necessary for economic stability, failure to address the people’s concerns could spark unrest, deepen distrust in government, and worsen poverty levels.

As the countdown to January 2026 begins, the ball is now in the court of the Tinubu administration—whether to push ahead with TIN at all costs or adjust the policy to reflect the realities of struggling Nigerians.