President Bola Tinubu yesterday brushed aside calls for the suspension of the implementation of the tax laws, insisting that they take effect on January 1, 2026 as planned.
The tax laws reform had generated heated national debate, most recently over allegations that the gazetted copies differ from the versions passed by the National Assembly.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), among others, had called for the suspension of the implementation.
The controversy was trigged by allegations by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, that there were discrepancies between the versions of the tax bills passed by lawmakers and the copies gazetted.
The four laws: the National Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act and the Nigeria Tax Act were passed in March, with Votes and Proceedings produced in May, signed by President Tinubu in June and gazetted on June 26.
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, later constituted a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the allegations of alterations of the tax laws and report within one week, which elapsed last Thursday.
The committee had asked Nigerians to expect its report soon, but it is yet to make it available.
In its response to the mounting pressure for suspension of the implementation of the tax laws, the National Assembly, last Friday, ordered for the re-gazetting of the tax laws; the move which some lawyers believe is illegal.
President Tinubu, in a statement he signed yesterday, emphasised that the tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025 and the remaining Acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, would continue as planned.
According to him, these reforms are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation for our country.
He stated that the tax laws are not designed to raise taxes, but to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.
The president urged all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, “which is now firmly in the delivery stage.”
He said his administration was aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws.
“No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process. Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures,” Tinubu said.
He emphasised his administration’s unwavering commitment to due process and the integrity of enacted laws.
He also said the Presidency pledged to work with the National Assembly to ensure the swift resolution of any issue identified.
The president assures all Nigerians that the federal government would continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that supports prosperity and shared responsibility.
