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Landmark laws unify Nigeria’s tax system and expand revenue agency powers
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Nigeria Revenue Service replaces FIRS, gains autonomy and broader collection mandate
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President Tinubu hails reforms as foundation for new economic direction
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed into law four major tax reform bills passed by the National Assembly, describing them as a turning point in Nigeria’s economic transformation and long-term prosperity.
The bills, which aim to modernise and harmonise the country’s fragmented tax structure, include:
- The Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business), to consolidate existing tax laws into one simplified statute;
- The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, to create a unified legal and operational tax framework across federal, state, and local levels;
- The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which dissolves the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and establishes the more autonomous and efficiency-driven Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS);
- And the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, to institutionalise coordination among all revenue authorities.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the State House, President Tinubu declared, “We are in transit; we have changed the roads, we have opened the doors to a new economy. We have shown the world that Nigeria is ready and open for business.”
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He praised the National Assembly for their resilience in passing the bills, noting that tax reforms are rarely smooth. “Not all roads will be easy in nation-building. What you have provided is leadership and courage,” Tinubu said.
Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, commended the President for backing the committee without interference and called the reform “fundamental.”
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“History will remember you for good… because you went for a fundamental reform,” he said.
For Dr. Zacch Adedeji, now Head of the Nigeria Revenue Service, the signing marked a personal and professional milestone. “This is the happiest day of my life. It’s a dream come true,” he stated.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio added, “You campaigned on change, and today, this law will outlive us and shape generations to come.”
The tax laws are expected to strengthen fiscal discipline, simplify tax compliance, and widen the revenue base without placing additional burdens on citizens. Implementation of the laws is scheduled to begin in January 2026, following a nationwide sensitisation and rollout phase.
