The Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese, Rev. Dr. Stephen Dami Mamza, has voiced serious concerns over the government’s handling of the newly implemented Tax Reform Act, warning that inadequate public enlightenment risks turning a potentially beneficial policy into a burdensome imposition on ordinary Nigerians.
The bishop stated this while speaking to journalists on Saturday, January 10, 2026, following the ordination of three new priests for the Yola diocese. He called for immediate government action to prioritize public discourse, openness, and education to ensure the policy’s success.
Bishop Mamza, a respected figure known for his humanitarian and peacebuilding work in Nigeria’s northeast, faulted the Federal Government for failing to adequately explain the complex reforms to the citizenry.
“Taxation, when poorly introduced, risks further burdening the people rather than improving national development,” the bishop stated, pinpointing the central communication gap that has plagued the policy since its enactment.
On the nation’s enduring security challenges, Bishop Dami called for “holistic and pragmatic approaches,” emphasizing improved intelligence gathering, information sharing, and a more aggressive stance against insurgents.
With 2026 marking the beginning of a crucial cycle of political activities leading to national elections, the bishop also appealed to the political class, urging politicians to “play the game according to the rules” and called on electorates to “vote capable hands that can take Nigeria to the promise land.
For over a decade, he has managed camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Yola, providing him with a ground-level view of the impact of economic and security policies on Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
The ball is now in the government’s court to heed these calls and launch a robust, inclusive, and sustained campaign to demystify the tax reforms for every Nigerian.
