President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s colonial-era tax laws, plagued by fragmentation, multiplicity and inconsistencies, kept Nigerians poor for decades, but the new tax reforms introduced by his administration will deliver greater opportunities and inclusive prosperity.
Speaking yesterday at the commissioning of the 16-storey Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) headquarters in Abuja, President Tinubu said the reforms, which became fully operational in January, are designed to be people-centred and investment-friendly.
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He stressed that the changes aim to liberate the economy from archaic constraints and make it globally competitive.
“I made a solemn pledge on my inauguration day to move Nigerians from the dimness of uncertainty into the clear light of renewed hope,” the President said, reaffirming his commitment to confronting structural weaknesses and building an economy anchored in discipline, equity and opportunity.
The event was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, several ministers, lawmakers, private sector leaders and governors of Kwara, Imo, Borno, Kogi, Plateau and Anambra states.
President Tinubu commended NRS Executive Chairman Dr Zacch Adedeji for completing the modern facility in just 30 months after more than two decades since the foundation stone was laid.
The building will house 3,000 staff and includes a data processing centre, clinic, auditorium, training facilities, gym and library.
He described the headquarters as more than a physical structure, calling it “a symbol of a new standard of professionalism, transparency, efficiency and service” that reflects the administration’s resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal foundation.
The President thanked Minister of State for Finance Taiwo Oyedele for modernising the tax laws into a “manageable, realisable and understandable” system.
He assured Nigerians that the reforms are not about increasing the tax burden but about creating a fair, transparent and simplified framework that rewards enterprise and supports growth.
Dr Adedeji highlighted significant revenue growth, revealing that total revenue collection rose from N6.8 trillion five years ago to N28.7 trillion by the end of 2025.
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He also noted that funds available to the federation increased from N711 billion in May 2023 to N3.6 trillion by September 2025 – a 400 percent rise.
Senate President Akpabio urged patience with the administration, pointing to the elimination of long fuel queues and Nigeria’s shift to producing and even exporting refined petroleum products.
Speaker Abbas praised the reforms for replacing overlapping and fragmented tax regimes with a coherent single framework.
The President urged the NRS to build public trust and become a model institution respected at home and abroad.
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