Tinubu Signs Four Tax Reform Bills into Law

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law four groundbreaking tax reform bills aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s fiscal and revenue architecture. The signing ceremony took place at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja at about 3:20 p.m. local time on Thursday.

The newly enacted laws include the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill. These legislative instruments were passed by the National Assembly following extensive consultations with stakeholders across various sectors.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga described the reforms as pivotal, stating, “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.”

Top government dignitaries witnessed the event, including the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leaders of both chambers, and chairpersons of the Senate and House Finance Committees. Also present were Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who chairs the Nigeria Governors Forum; Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, head of the Progressives Governors Forum; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun; and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

A key component of the reform is the Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business), which seeks to unify Nigeria’s fragmented tax laws. “By reducing the multiplicity of taxes and eliminating duplication, the bill will enhance the ease of doing business, reduce taxpayer compliance burdens, and create a more predictable fiscal environment,” the Presidency said in a statement issued Wednesday night.

The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill will introduce a uniform legal and operational framework for tax collection across the federal, state, and local tiers of government, streamlining enforcement and compliance nationwide.

Replacing the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill sets up the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS)  a more autonomous, performance-driven institution. The new agency’s scope includes non-tax revenue collection and embeds transparency, accountability, and efficiency standards within its operations.

The final piece of the legislative package, the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, creates a formal governance platform to enhance inter-governmental revenue coordination. It also introduces critical accountability mechanisms such as the Tax Appeal Tribunal and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman, designed to ensure fairness in tax disputes and protect taxpayer rights.

These reforms are part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to modernize Nigeria’s economic framework and address long-standing revenue generation challenges.