The Federal Government has insisted that it will not shift the January 1, 2026 implementation date for the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, despite mounting pressure and allegations that the laws were altered after passage by the National Assembly.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, made this known on Friday after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Lagos.
Oyedele, who led a delegation to present the Nigeria Tax Reform Acts to the President, was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, Joseph Tegbe, and the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji.
His comments came amid calls by opposition figures and civil society organisations urging President Tinubu to suspend the implementation and investigate claims that the version of the tax laws gazetted by the Federal Government differed from the final copy passed by lawmakers.
The controversy followed a revelation by a member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, who alleged that the officially gazetted document was not the same as the version approved by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent.
Adding to the concerns, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe (SAN), warned in a statement that the dispute surrounding the tax laws threatens the integrity, transparency and credibility of Nigeria’s legislative process.
He called for a comprehensive and transparent investigation to restore public confidence.
However, Oyedele maintained that the Federal Government would proceed with the implementation as scheduled, even as the National Assembly reviews the allegations.
He explained that four tax-related laws were signed by the President, two of which — the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act have already taken effect since June 26, 2025.
According to him, the remaining two laws the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act will commence on January 1, 2026.
“We met with Mr President to give an update on the implementation of the tax reform laws. Two of the four laws have already commenced, while the remaining two are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026,” Oyedele said.
He added that while the Federal Government welcomes the findings of the House of Representatives committee investigating the alleged alterations, the implementation timeline remains unchanged.
“The plan to commence the two remaining laws on January 1, 2026 will go ahead as scheduled. These reforms are designed to provide relief to Nigerians,” he said.
Oyedele noted that under the reforms, about 98 per cent of workers would either pay no personal income tax or pay less, while 97 per cent of small businesses would be exempt from corporate income tax, VAT and withholding tax. Large businesses, he added, would also benefit from reduced tax burdens.
He stressed that the goal of the reforms was not immediate revenue generation but long-term economic growth through a broader tax base, improved compliance and fairness.
“The intention is not to raise taxes immediately. Over time, revenue will come from economic growth, increased compliance and a wider tax base,” Oyedele said, adding that the reforms would promote inclusivity and shared prosperity across the country.