By Roy Ofori, African Heritage Global Affairs Editor. 26 December 2025
Petition by Concerned Nigerians in Diaspora (CND), in collaboration with ADC-DN is gaining traction at global stage. As Nigeria grapples with economic reform and fiscal restructuring, a newly enacted Tax Law has triggered widespread concern, particularly among Nigerians living abroad. At the center of the growing opposition is a fundamental democratic question: Can a government legitimately tax citizens who have no political representation or voting rights?
Concerned Nigerians in Diaspora (CND), in collaboration with ADC-DN, say the answer is a resounding no.
A Longstanding Democratic Exclusion: For decades, successive Nigerian governments have made and broken promises to grant voting rights to Nigerians in the diaspora. Despite contributing billions of dollars annually through remittances, investments, and skills transfer, millions of Nigerians abroad remain politically disenfranchised.
These citizens have no elected representatives to:
• Influence tax policy
• Oversee how taxes are assessed or collected
• Monitor how public funds are allocated or spent
Yet, under the new Tax Law, they may now be subjected to additional financial obligations. Critics argue that this amounts to taxation without representation, a principle historically recognized as incompatible with democracy and accountable governance.
Economic Stakeholders Without a Voice: Nigerians in the diaspora are not passive observers of the nation’s economy. They are:
• Major contributors to household welfare through remittances:
• Investors in real estate, businesses, and startups
• Skilled professionals supporting national development
Imposing taxes on this group without political voice, institutional safeguards, or representation raises serious ethical, legal, and constitutional concerns.
Consular Services in Decline: The situation is further worsened by the deteriorating quality of Nigeria’s global consular services. Nigerians abroad frequently report:
• Poor service delivery
• Administrative inefficiencies
• Escalating fees with little accountability
Introducing new tax obligations without first addressing these longstanding service failures deepens the sense of injustice and exclusion.
Allegations of Post-Legislative Alterations: Even more troubling are credible and widely circulated reports suggesting that the Tax Law may have been materially altered after passage by the National Assembly. These alleged insertions reportedly:
• Restrict citizens’ rights to challenge unfair or arbitrary tax assessments
• Grant sweeping and coercive enforcement powers to tax authorities, with insufficient legal safeguards
If verified, such actions would represent a serious breach of legislative integrity, undermine the rule of law, and erode constitutionally protected civil liberties.
A Call for Accountability, Transparency, and Representation: CND and ADC-DN insist that Nigerians, particularly those in the diaspora cannot be subjected to taxation in the absence of political voice, judicial safeguards, transparency, and democratic oversight.
Their Demands: They call on the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to:
• Immediately suspend the implementation of the new Tax Law
• Investigate and publicly clarify all allegations of post-legislative alterations
• Guarantee taxpayers’ constitutional right to challenge tax assessments in court
• Implement diaspora voting rights without further delay
• Establish formal political representation for Nigerians in the diaspora
• Substantially improve global consular services before imposing new tax obligations
Call to Action: Stand Up for Democratic Rights: This issue, they emphasized, goes beyond taxation, it is about representation, fairness, and the future of Nigerian democracy.
They urge:
• Nigerians at home and abroad
• Civil society organizations
• Lawmakers and legal professionals
• International partners and democratic institutions to stand in defense of accountability and the rule of law.
All Nigerians in the diaspora are encouraged to sign the Change.org petition titled:
“No Taxation Without Representation: Nigerians Reject the New Tax Law.” Democracy demands representation.
Justice demands accountability.
Nigeria must do better.
One can sign the formal petition from the Concerned Nigerians in Diaspora (CND) In collaboration with ADC-DN by following the link below
https://c.org/F7Q6dmNfwC
