The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has assured Nigerian workers that the proposed Tax Reform Bills are designed to protect and enhance their welfare.
This reassurance comes after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged the government to withdraw the bills for further consultation to address workers’ concerns. 
Oyedele, in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), emphasized that the Tax Reform Bills offer substantial benefits to low- and middle-income earners.
He noted that workers earning below ₦1 million annually, equivalent to about ₦83,000 per month, would enjoy full tax exemptions under the reforms.
“Lower taxes to enhance the disposable income of workers. Full exemption of low-income earners up to ₦1m p.a.
(about ₦83k per month), representing about one-third of all workers in the private and public sectors, from PAYE tax,” Oyedele stated.
Furthermore, Oyedele highlighted additional tax reliefs, including reduced PAYE taxes for those earning up to ₦20 million annually and special exemptions for members of the armed forces combating insecurity.
He described the Tax Reform Bill as the most worker-friendly reform in Nigeria’s history.
“While we recognize that the tax bills can be further improved through robust debates and engagements… the bills in their current form are the most pro-workers tax reform in Nigerian history,” he added.
Oyedele also encouraged the NLC to continue discussions to ensure the bills align with workers’ expectations.
He stressed that collaboration is key to refining the proposals further.
“We believe that the NLC will not intentionally work against the interest of its members.
We therefore look forward to the opportunity to discuss specific areas for improvement in the bills to better serve the interest of all Nigerians, including workers,” Oyedele concluded.
The proposed Tax Reform Bills remain a hot topic of debate, but with assurances from Oyedele, stakeholders are hopeful that the reforms will provide economic relief while securing the welfare of Nigerian workers.
