‘After election, they will check under your bed for taxes’ — Kwankwaso takes swipe at Tinubu government

The vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of delaying the implementation of tax collection provisions under the newly enacted tax laws out of fear of losing the 2027 general election.

Kwankwaso made the allegation at the inauguration of the NDC Campaign Council in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, where he criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the tax reforms.

He claimed that although the tax reform bills had been passed into law, the administration was reluctant to commence their implementation because of concerns that the measures could trigger public dissatisfaction ahead of the next presidential election.

“The bill has been passed into law, but the Federal Government is now afraid of losing the election. That is why it has delayed the collection,” he said.

The former Kano State governor warned that Nigerians could face increased tax enforcement if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secures another term in 2027.

“As soon as they get a second chance, God forbid, Nigerians will suffer from different kinds of tax collection. They will start going from house to house, checking even under your bed to collect taxes,” he alleged.

Kwankwaso also questioned the role of some political leaders during the legislative process that led to the passage of the tax reform bills.

He alleged that the Senate session for the consideration and approval of the bills was chaired by a senator from Kano, while the Senate President deliberately stayed away from the proceedings.

“The worst part of it is that the session for the approval of the tax bill was chaired by one of us from Kano. Even the Senate President intentionally refused to attend because he did not want to be part of it,” Kwankwaso said.

The NDC chieftain urged Nigerians to reject another APC mandate, arguing that the ruling party’s return to power could jeopardise the country’s future.

He presented the NDC as an alternative, promising that the party would review and cancel what he described as unnecessary taxes if elected into office.

“ NDC is there for Nigerians. When you give us your mandate, we will cancel all such unnecessary taxes, we will provide quality education and sponsor your child’s education,” he said.

Kwankwaso’s remarks form part of the opposition’s growing criticism of the Tinubu administration’s tax reforms and economic policies as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.

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