National Patriots Urges Nigerians to Ignore Misleading Claims About Tinubu’s Tax Reforms and Reject Tax-Related Misinformation Ahead of 2027
By Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
Music has always been a powerful instrument of political expression, social commentary and public enlightenment in Nigeria. However, when musical lyrics present inaccurate descriptions of existing legislation as established facts, the resulting misinformation deserves serious scrutiny.
The National Patriots strongly condemn the misleading tax-related claims attributed to Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, Beg Your Papa, particularly allegations suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration intends to impose punitive taxes on struggling Nigerians after the 2027 presidential election.
Among the reported claims are suggestions that workers earning Nigeria’s ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage will surrender ₦15,000 to taxation, that market traders making ₦20,000 profit will face automatic deductions, and that money entering Nigerians’ bank accounts will be indiscriminately taxed.
Watch full video HERE
These assertions must be examined against the actual legislation.
TINUBU’S TAX REFORMS ARE ALREADY LAW
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law on June 26, 2025. The Nigeria Tax Act commenced on January 1, 2026.
Consequently, the allegation that the administration intends to postpone implementation until after the 2027 presidential election is contradicted by the official commencement date.
The Federal Ministry of Finance has confirmed the implementation timetable and issued transition guidelines.
President Tinubu explained the administration’s objectives when he declared on June 26, 2025:
“They deliver the first major, pro-people tax cuts in a generation, targeted relief for low-income earners, small businesses, and families working hard to make ends meet.”
The President’s statement reflects the administration’s stated intention to create a fairer taxation framework while protecting economically vulnerable Nigerians.
The appropriate test of that commitment is the legislation itself and its implementation.
MINIMUM-WAGE EARNERS ARE EXEMPT
One particularly troubling allegation concerns workers earning the ₦70,000 monthly statutory minimum wage.
The Nigeria Tax Act provides an exemption from personal income tax for individuals earning the statutory minimum wage.
Therefore, the suggestion that such workers must automatically surrender ₦15,000 monthly in personal income tax is incorrect.
For other taxpayers, the legislation establishes progressive income-tax bands, beginning with a zero-percent rate on the first ₦800,000 of annual chargeable income.
The next ₦2.2 million is subject to a 15-percent rate, with higher rates applying to subsequent income bands.
The 15-percent rate is therefore not a universal deduction from every Nigerian’s earnings.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, explained the protective intention of the legislation during an interview on Channels Television on June 26, 2025:
“This tax law will not give you cash in your pocket, but at least it won’t take your cash away if you are poor.”
The National Patriots consider this distinction fundamental to public understanding of the reforms.
MARKET TRADERS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY TAXED ON EVERY PROFIT
The suggestion that every market woman or small trader making ₦20,000 profit must automatically surrender a percentage to the government misrepresents how income taxation operates.
Tax obligations depend on annual taxable income, allowable deductions, business classification and applicable statutory exemptions.
A trader’s daily profit is not automatically subject to an immediate flat-rate income-tax deduction.
Qualifying small companies also benefit from specific tax concessions under the new framework.
Nevertheless, exemptions must be understood within their statutory conditions. Not every trader is automatically exempt from every form of taxation.
The relevant question is what the legislation actually requires, not what a political song suggests.
BANK TRANSFERS ARE NOT AUTOMATICALLY TAXABLE INCOME
Another misleading narrative concerns money entering Nigerians’ bank accounts.
Receiving money through a bank transfer does not automatically convert that receipt into taxable income.
Genuine personal gifts, family support and transfers between an individual’s own accounts must be distinguished from taxable business earnings and investment income.
Separate statutory transaction levies may apply in appropriate circumstances, but these are not equivalent to imposing personal income tax on every bank credit.
Nigerians should not confuse the movement of money with the legal definition of taxable income.
POLITICAL CRITICISM MUST NOT REPLACE FACTUAL ACCURACY
The National Patriots recognise the constitutional right of musicians, entertainers and political commentators to criticise government policies.
However, artistic expression does not place verifiable factual claims beyond public scrutiny.
Where musical commentary describes existing legislation incorrectly, the public has every right to demand evidence and corrections.
The National Patriots regard the misleading allegations surrounding the tax reforms as political propaganda that must be challenged through factual clarification.
Any claim that a particular opposition organisation commissioned or financed the recording would, however, require independent evidence.
Nigeria’s economic difficulties are real. Citizens face pressures involving food prices, transportation, employment and household purchasing power.
These concerns deserve serious policy responses.
They do not justify inaccurate claims about statutory tax exemptions or the commencement of legislation.
NATIONAL PATRIOTS ANNOUNCES NBC PETITION
The National Patriots announces that it is submitting a formal petition to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), requesting an examination of the allegedly misleading tax-related claims contained in Eedris Abdulkareem’s song, Beg Your Papa.
The petition calls for appropriate lawful action where breaches of broadcasting regulations are established, while recognising the constitutional protection of freedom of expression.
The organisation considers it important that broadcasters distinguish political opinion from factual assertions capable of verification against existing legislation.
The National Patriots also calls upon the relevant tax authorities to intensify public enlightenment in English, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other Nigerian languages.
Market traders, artisans, transport workers, employees and small-business owners deserve clear explanations of their rights, obligations and statutory exemptions.
A successful tax reform must not only be properly legislated; it must also be properly understood and fairly administered.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Nigerians should dismiss the misleading claims in Eedris Abdulkareem’s song as political propaganda devoid of factual substance. The allegations about the Tinubu administration’s tax reforms are contradicted by the provisions of the law and should not be mistaken for the truth.
Music should enlighten, not misinform. Nigerians must reject false narratives, examine the facts and refuse to allow political propaganda to distort their understanding of government policies.
A falsehood does not become the truth simply because it is set to music.
— Princess Gloria Adebajo-Fraser, MFR
President, National Patriots.
Member, APC-PCC Strategic Communications Team.
