Niger Delta Youth Congress rejects proposed tax reform bill

The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has vehemently opposed the proposed Tax Reform Bill, citing its potential to exacerbate existing regional inequalities and further marginalise already disadvantaged communities.

According to the NDYC, the bill represents a significant departure from the principles of equity and shared prosperity that Nigeria was founded upon.

In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, the group stated that the bill’s structural flaws disproportionately favour a select few regions, leaving the vast majority of Nigerians, particularly those in historically exploited areas like the Niger Delta, further marginalided and disenfranchised.

The NDYC emphasised that the Niger Delta has borne the brunt of historical injustice, with the region’s oil wealth fueling Nigeria’s economic engine while its people remain impoverished, facing environmental degradation and systemic neglect.

“The proposed tax reforms do nothing to address these imbalances, instead risking further entrenchment.”

The NDYC also criticised the lack of stakeholder consultation in drafting the bill, calling it “deeply troubling.”

The organisation believes that tax reforms of this magnitude should not be imposed without broad-based input from all sectors of society.

Furthermore, the NDYC argued that the bill fails to alleviate the economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians, instead disproportionately benefiting large businesses and wealthy states while leaving small-scale entrepreneurs and struggling families vulnerable.

The NDYC, therefore, called on the National Assembly to reject the bill and instead champion reforms that reflect the aspirations of all Nigerians.

“Let us build a tax system that uplifts every region, respects the sacrifices of the Niger Delta, and honors the legacy of shared development that once defined our nation. We remain committed to advocating for policies that promote justice and equity, and we will not relent in our fight for a Nigeria that works for all its people.”