The Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province have appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to implement ongoing tax reforms with a human‑centred approach, urging fairness, transparency and compassion to prevent exacerbating hardship for many Nigerians.
The bishops made this call in a communiqué issued at the end of their first provincial meeting of 2026 held at the Jubilee Conference Centre in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In the communiqué titled “Sustaining Hope and Strengthening Our Good Efforts,” signed by Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, Chairman of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, and Most Rev. John Oyejola, Secretary, the clerics acknowledged the government’s intention to reform Nigeria’s tax system but expressed concern over how the reforms are being received and applied.
They noted that the implementation, which began on January 1, 2026 after being signed into law in June 2025, has generated controversy and anxiety nationwide, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.
The bishops urged that the tax reforms be administered with fairness, transparency and accountability, and they specifically called on authorities to give the reforms a human face by allowing time for the most vulnerable Nigerians to adjust before the full force of enforcement is applied.
This, they said, will help mitigate social tension and prevent economic policies from deepening inequality or placing additional burdens on citizens already grappling with inflation, unemployment and rising living costs.
The clerics warned that policies implemented without sensitivity to citizens’ lived realities could further entrench hardship and fuel social discontent.
They stressed that taxation should not become an added burden for ordinary Nigerians but should be guided by compassion and equitable application, especially given the widespread public concern about misinformation surrounding the reforms.
In addition to addressing tax policy, the bishops used their platform to reflect on broader socio‑economic challenges facing Nigeria.
They urged federal, state and local governments to recommit to securing lives and property, improving basic healthcare access, strengthening infrastructure, and fostering an enabling environment for economic growth.
Emphasis was placed on addressing issues like prolonged health workers’ strikes, which the bishops described as having subjected ordinary Nigerians to unnecessary suffering.
The communiqué also criticised the poor state of major road networks, particularly in the South‑West, and called for greater performance and accountability from federal and state ministries.
By highlighting these concerns alongside the tax reforms, the bishops signalled that economic policy must be part of a wider framework of social justice and good governance.
Reaffirming the Church’s commitment to social justice, the bishops urged Nigerians not to lose hope. They encouraged citizens to combine prayer with responsible citizenship, hard work and adherence to the rule of law, and to resist cynicism and negativity in the face of economic and policy challenges.
Their call reflects growing public discourse on the need for compassionate policymaking as Nigeria navigates tax reform and other structural changes aimed at strengthening fiscal capacity while safeguarding societal wellbeing.
