Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has described President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms as the most ambitious overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal framework in decades, forecasting that Tinubu will be remembered as the country’s foremost economic reformer.
Dogara made the remarks on Tuesday during the inaugural Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House of Representatives Press Corps at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
Delivering a lecture titled “Navigating Tax Reform in Nigeria: Insights on President Tinubu’s Policies,” Dogara explored the origins, scope, and potential impact of the reform initiatives enshrined in the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and associated legislation.
He noted that President Tinubu inherited a troubled economy, weighed down by excessive deficit financing, dual exchange rates, and forward crude sales tied to foreign loans.
“By the time President Tinubu took office, ₦22.7 trillion had been printed and injected into the economy, destroying the value of the naira,” Dogara said. “Some anointed individuals were making hundreds of millions from forex allocations without producing any goods or services.”
Dogara praised Tinubu’s boldness in implementing sweeping reforms, despite resistance from various quarters.
“From day one, it was clear that something urgent, nay revolutionary, must be done to prevent our economy from imploding,” he stated.
The former Speaker outlined the key elements of the tax reform package, which consolidates 16 existing tax statutes into four major laws:
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Nigeria Tax Act 2025
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Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025
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Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025
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Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025
These laws are set to take effect in January 2026, with aims to simplify Nigeria’s tax system, broaden the tax base, and align fiscal policies with global standards.
Citing the work of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, Dogara said the reforms were designed to “protect the poor, empower businesses, encourage investment, and ensure fairness”.
Among the relief measures highlighted were:
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Tax exemptions for small companies with annual turnover not exceeding ₦100 million
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Full income tax exemptions for individuals earning ₦800,000 or less annually
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Rent reliefs for salaried workers
Dogara also addressed concerns over a 5% fuel surcharge, clarifying that it was not a new tax, but an existing provision under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act of 2007.
“This safeguard eliminates recklessness and ensures timing and economic conditions are carefully considered,” he said.
While commending the policy direction, Dogara cautioned about potential issues relating to interpretation, digital readiness, and compliance costs. He emphasised that tax reform must be anchored on public trust.
“True tax reform is not about raising rates, but about raising trust. When citizens can see where their naira goes, they are proud to give it.”
He urged the government to channel tax revenues into infrastructure, healthcare, and education, noting that this would leave a lasting legacy and “cement President Tinubu’s place in Nigeria’s history as the most consequential economic reformer of our time”.
Also speaking at the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the reforms as a bold step towards fairness and efficiency. Represented by the House Spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, he said:
“Indeed, what we now have before us is one of the most significant steps of building our Fourth Republic, with the greatest potential to transform our economy and fiscal institutions.”
Other stakeholders, including representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), lawmakers, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and effective communication to build public confidence in the reforms.
Chairman of the House Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, said the lecture aimed to demystify Tinubu’s tax policies for Nigerians, while Organising Committee Chairman, Philip Nyiam, noted that the event marked a shift in parliamentary journalism by positioning the press as “agenda setters and contributors to national development”.
