Nigeria’s Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has moved to calm growing public concerns over the country’s new tax laws, insisting they are not designed to impose hardship on citizens but to strengthen the economy and create fairness in taxation.

Bamidele explained that the reforms are part of a broader effort to simplify Nigeria’s tax system, eliminate multiple taxation, and encourage economic growth. According to him, the previous system placed unnecessary pressure on individuals and businesses through overlapping taxes and inconsistent policies, stifling productivity and discouraging investment.

He stressed that the Senate’s intention is to build a tax framework that supports development while protecting ordinary Nigerians, especially small business owners and low-income earners. By streamlining tax collection and closing loopholes, the government hopes to improve revenue without pushing citizens further into financial strain.

The Senate Leader urged Nigerians to look beyond the initial anxiety surrounding the reforms and judge them by their long-term benefits, assuring that lawmakers remain open to dialogue and adjustments where necessary. “Tax laws should serve the people and the nation,” he said, “not become a source of suffering.”