Nigerians have criticized Zacch Adedeji, executive chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, after he challenged opponents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms to explain what they would have done differently.
What Adedeji said
- In a widely circulated video, Adedeji questioned those attacking the government’s economic policies, asking what alternative measures they would have introduced.
- He said he was concerned by some of the public commentary on the economy and urged critics to provide specific alternatives rather than simply condemn the reforms.
- Addressing President Tinubu, Adedeji said the administration had taken the system beyond what its critics understood and should not be left wondering what they would have done in its place.
Criticism of the reforms
The remarks prompted a series of responses from Nigerians on X, with some users describing them as dismissive of the hardship caused by rising prices and other economic pressures.
Joe Abah, a development specialist and former director-general of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, called the statement insensitive. He said that, if the comment had been accurately reported, he could answer Adedeji’s challenge by pointing to measures being pursued in the United Kingdom by Andy Burnham to ease the cost-of-living burden.
Abah said that within 19 days, Burnham had eliminated the 5% value-added tax on household electricity, compared with Nigeria’s 7.5% rate. He also said bus fares had been limited to £2 per journey, with private operators reimbursed for the gap between the capped price and their actual costs.
In addition, Abah said Burnham had promised a 20% reduction in business rates for pubs and clubs, which he described as significant institutions in British social life. He added that Universal Credit had been retained and adjusted to provide greater support for poorer and more vulnerable people.
Abah argued that Nigeria’s higher tax receipts should instead be directed toward reducing the cost of living. He said that, at his own level, this would have been his alternative approach and ended his post by suggesting that the response addressed Adedeji’s question.
Lawyer Vena Ikem also responded on X. She questioned what the millions of dollars spent on Adedeji’s movements represented in relation to the taxes collected from Nigerians, including low-income citizens. Ikem said she hoped he would face the consequences of his conduct during his lifetime and described his stance as arrogance enabled by the alleged misuse of tax revenues.
Adekunle Oderinde focused on the size of Adedeji’s official convoy. He claimed it was longer and more costly than that of the British prime minister, while Adedeji was criticizing Nigerians for complaining about the impact of policies introduced by Tinubu.
Oderinde also argued that the president himself travels with an expensive, extensive convoy, adding to the pressure on scarce public resources.
