President Bola Tinubu has signed into law four major tax reform bills aimed at modernising Nigeria’s fiscal framework and boosting revenue generation.
The signing ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock at approximately 3:20pm local time on Wednesday. The four bills—each a significant component of Nigeria’s tax reform agenda—are:
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The Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business)
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The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill
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The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill
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The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill
The bills, passed by the National Assembly after months of consultation with stakeholders, are expected to harmonise and streamline the nation’s tax processes, reduce duplication, and enhance the ease of doing business.
Speaking on the implications of the new laws, Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga said:
“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 signing ceremony was attended by top government officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Senate and House Majority Leaders, and finance committee chairpersons from both chambers.
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Also present were Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum), Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma (Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum), Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi.
Overview of the Bills
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Nigeria Tax Bill: Aims to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented tax statutes into a harmonised legal structure, reduce compliance burdens, and create a predictable fiscal environment.
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Nigeria Tax Administration Bill: Establishes a uniform framework for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments, promoting consistency and fairness.
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Nigeria Revenue Service Bill: Replaces the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with the new Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), a more autonomous and performance-driven national tax agency with an expanded mandate that includes non-tax revenue collection.
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Joint Revenue Board Bill: Creates a formal structure to improve coordination among revenue authorities at all levels. It introduces accountability mechanisms including a Tax Appeal Tribunal and an Office of the Tax Ombudsman.
The reforms are part of President Tinubu’s broader agenda to strengthen fiscal policy, improve investor confidence, and ensure more transparent and efficient revenue collection.
