The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) has urged Nigerians to resist what it calls the “anti-poor tax policies” of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that the measures will deepen hardship for workers and low-income groups.

In a New Year message delivered by RSM’s Publicity Secretary, Comrade Salako Kayode, the group highlighted growing economic challenges facing Nigerians, including rising inflation, escalating food prices, unemployment, fuel price hikes, and declining public services, describing everyday survival as increasingly difficult for millions.

RSM accused the federal government of shifting the burden of the economic downturn onto ordinary citizens while protecting wealthy individuals, corporations, and political elites. The movement criticized the new tax laws, arguing that they fail to improve essential services such as healthcare, education, housing, or employment, instead sustaining corruption, debt servicing, and elite extravagance.

“The new year begins amid deepening hardship,” the statement said. “Instead of addressing these realities, the Tinubu-led government has chosen to burden ordinary Nigerians with new and increased taxes while shielding the rich and powerful.”

As an alternative, RSM called for recovering stolen public funds, ending wasteful governance and excessive salaries, imposing higher taxes on big businesses and the super-rich, and investing in public services and decent jobs.

The organization also called on trade unions, civil society groups, students, and community organizations to build a united front and resist the policies through peaceful, collective action. RSM emphasized that the new year should be marked by organized struggle, solidarity, and protection of living standards and democratic rights, asserting that a fairer Nigeria is achievable.