President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will, on Thursday, sign into law four landmark tax reform bills aimed at transforming Nigeria’s fiscal architecture and boosting revenue generation across all tiers of government.
According to a statement released Wednesday by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the four bills — the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill — were passed by the National Assembly after extensive consultation with stakeholders, industry experts, and interest groups.
Onanuga noted that the reforms, once signed into law, will significantly reshape the country’s tax landscape, enhance administrative efficiency, and improve the ease of doing business. “When the new tax laws become operational, they are expected to significantly transform tax administration in the country, leading to increased revenue generation, improved business environment, and a boost in domestic and foreign investments,” the statement read.
The signing ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, will be attended by top government officials including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate and House Majority Leaders, as well as the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Finance. Also expected are the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Among the four bills, the Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business) seeks to harmonise Nigeria’s complex and fragmented tax laws into a single statute. It is designed to reduce the multiplicity of taxes, cut down on duplication, and ease compliance for taxpayers, thereby fostering a more stable and predictable fiscal environment.
The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill introduces a uniform legal and operational framework for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments, ensuring consistency and improving coordination across jurisdictions.
The third bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, repeals the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act. It establishes a more autonomous and performance-driven national agency — the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) — with an expanded mandate that includes the collection of non-tax revenues. The bill also introduces mechanisms to strengthen transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency within the agency.
The fourth and final bill, the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, provides a formal governance structure to enhance cooperation between tax authorities at all levels. It includes provisions for establishing a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman, both of which are key to ensuring taxpayer rights and addressing grievances.
Analysts have hailed the legislation as a bold and necessary step toward strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal independence and enhancing the country’s economic competitiveness.
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