ADC’s Kachikwu Urges Tinubu to Suspend Tax Reforms Over Rising Hardship, Insecurity

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 general election, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the ongoing tax reform policies, citing worsening economic hardship and rising insecurity across the country.
Mr. Kachikwu made the appeal while addressing a world press conference in Abuja, where he said Nigerians are already overstretched and cannot bear additional tax burdens at a time when many are struggling to survive.

According to him, the combined impact of increasing insecurity and recent economic reforms has pushed millions of citizens to the brink, leaving little room for hope or stability. He warned that sustained pressure on the populace through aggressive taxation could provoke widespread resistance.
Quoting from the Bible, the ADC candidate emphasized that hope is vital for survival and national progress, but lamented that many Nigerians are gradually losing hope as living conditions continue to deteriorate through no fault of their own.
Mr. Kachikwu compared the present suffering of Nigerians to the biblical experience of the Israelites under Pharaoh, questioning whether the current leadership fully appreciates the depth of hardship faced by the people.
He cautioned that President Tinubu would not want to be remembered as a leader whose policies compelled citizens to flee the country in search of survival.
While acknowledging that the president inherited a fragile economy in need of urgent reforms, Mr. Kachikwu argued that the ongoing economic “surgery” has instead intensified hardship for ordinary Nigerians, stripping many of their basic means of livelihood.
He therefore called for compassionate, people-centered leadership, urging the federal government to place priority on security, economic stability, and the welfare of citizens rather than increased taxation.