NAOSS President Debunks “Anti‑People” Tax Reform Myths, Secures Direct Presidential Support for Ogun Students’ Scholarships, Welfare

 

_By Adesakin Adefemi | January 8, 2026_

Abuja — In a measured, fact‑driven address following a high‑level consultative meeting at Merit House on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, Aare Oluwafemi Ajayi, National President of the National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS National), publicly clarified the true scope of Nigeria’s recently enacted Tax Reform Act. He urged the public to reject sensationalist misinformation and rely on verified facts. Speaking alongside fellow student leaders from across the federation, Ajayi dismissed viral claims that the new law imposes “automatic deductions” on bank accounts or targets small traders and student entrepreneurs.

“There is no such provision,” he stated unequivocally. “If a debit appears on your statement, it is not a tax. Under the law, only businesses valued at ₦100 million and above are liable — and even then, essential goods remain fully exempt. Individuals earning up to ₦800,000 per year are completely outside the tax net.” He described the controversy as a “battle among the bourgeoisie,” warning that elite interests are weaponising emotional rhetoric to rally ordinary citizens against a policy that ultimately aims to expand public services for the majority.

The NAOSS leader called on all citizens — especially students — to verify information before sharing, stressing that the reform is designed to modernise tax administration, close loopholes, and fund critical infrastructure — not to burden the poor. “Aluta continues — but aluta must be guided by truth,” he said, echoing analysts who argue that clear communication from authorities has been conspicuously absent, allowing rumour to dominate public discourse. Recent commentary highlighted how the absence of timely public guidance from agencies like the National Orientation Agency and Ministry of Information left a vacuum that misinformation quickly filled, distorting public perception of a law that actually exempts food, healthcare and education from VAT.

Immediately after the tax session, Ajayi held a focused discussion with Comrade Asefon Sunday, Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Student Engagement. The adviser pledged to fast‑track scholarship opportunities for Ogun State students nationwide and confirmed his ongoing support for Ajayi’s leadership — a signal that NAOSS now enjoys direct access to the presidency. Later that evening, Ajayi met with Comrade Olusola Ladoja, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Grand Commandant of All Aluta Forces.

Ladoja assured him that academic palliatives, grants and welfare packages are already in development and will be rolled out shortly to Ogun indigenes across tertiary institutions. “We have confidence in your leadership — Ogun students will reap the harvest of this struggle,” Ladoja affirmed. Ajayi described his approach as “result‑driven aluta,” moving beyond protest to sit at decision‑making tables. “I am not merely shouting from the sidelines — I am in the room where policies are shaped,” he declared, urging fellow students to remain steadfast, united and prayerful as he converts advocacy into concrete gains.

In closing, he extended gratitude to NANS Zone D Coordinator Owolewa Taiwo, NANS President Olusola Ladoja, and Presidential Adviser Asefon Sunday, while invoking Yoruba proverbs: _“Ọmọ Ògùn, ìṣẹ́ yá — work is coming; Ọmọ Ògùn, owó dé — money is arriving; Ọmọ Ògùn, fàájì bẹ̀rẹ̀ — comfort is beginning.”_ The new tax law also removes VAT from essential goods — food, healthcare and education — a direct intervention to protect the purchasing power of the average Nigerian.

Furthermore, the Presidency has refuted claims that the reform seeks to dissolve key agencies like NASENI, TETFUND and NITDA, clarifying that they will continue to receive funding through budgetary allocations and a phased sharing of consolidated tax revenue until 2030. Independent analysts note that the reform is one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s tax system in decades, consolidating multiple outdated laws into a coherent framework to simplify compliance, improve efficiency and promote fairness — not to crush small businesses or students.

In response to the clarifications, NANS officially called off its planned nationwide protest scheduled for January 14, 2025, after extensive engagements with the National Assembly, FIRS, and DSS confirmed the law’s pro‑poor provisions and committed to a robust public‑education campaign. The student body has since endorsed the reform and pledged to act as “ambassadors of public enlightenment,” educating fellow Nigerians on its benefits.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced a ₦10 million Tax Reform Challenge for students, inviting undergraduates and NYSC members to submit articles, videos, podcasts or social‑media posts explaining the new laws — with top prizes of ₦5 million, ₦3 million and ₦2 million — further encouraging youth participation in shaping fiscal policy. You may wish to explore how NAOSS plans to monitor the implementation of promised scholarships and welfare packages, or ask about specific timelines for the rollout of academic grants to Ogun students.