The Presidency, in a statement by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee said the publications misrepresented the minister’s statements, falsely alleging that he urged Nigerians to await the outcome of a “legislative probe”, a process that had long been concluded.

The gazetted copies certified by the National Assembly was said to have been published since early January 2026.

The Presidency declared that the twisted narrative was unhelpful as it risked distorting public understanding and misleading the very people the reforms were designed to benefit.

It said the minister, during a recent fireside chat at the NBA SLP conference in Lagos, highlighted the early positive impact of the new tax laws, including thousands of informal businesses now seeking CAC registration daily while the number of individuals registered for tax purposes nationwide had increased from barely 10 million before the reform to over 100 million.

The impressive results was said to have stemmed from the robust design and progressive nature of the new laws, which include:

– Exemption of small companies from tax.

– Increased exemption thresholds for low-income earners.

– Tax exemptions on basic consumption items like food, education, healthcare, transportation, and rent.

– Introduction of the Tax Ombud to protect taxpayer right.

“The Minister contrasted the transformative changes in the new laws with the regressive provisions in the old laws. He however emphasised that no law is perfect. Therefore, ongoing stakeholder engagement is essential to identify and address any errors or gaps for appropriate legislative updates through Finance Bills as part of a continuous improvement process.

“We urge members of the public to disregard sensational headlines and twisted narratives and rely exclusively on official sources and credible media organisations for accurate information regarding the tax reform and other government policies,” the statement reads in part.

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The post Reports that minister admitted errors in new tax laws false -Presidency appeared first on Frontpageng.

President Tinubu, who spoke after the brief ceremony at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the appointment was a vote of confidence in Oyedele.

The president extolled the new minister for his professionalism in coordinating the work of the Tax Reforms Committee.

He noted that Oyedele’s commitment and deep knowledge of tax policy played a critical role in shaping the reforms designed to simplify the tax system, expand the revenue base, and create a more business-friendly environment in Nigeria.

“We are very proud of your knowledge, your simplicity, ambition, and excellence. I congratulate your wife for standing up to our challenge of time management and long hours of absence.

“This is additional responsibility, and I hope you will encourage and support him,” President Tinubu told the wife of the new minister.

He also acknowledged Oyedele’s zeal, patience, and determination to serve his fatherland with courage.

“Thank you for accepting to serve your country, especially for reforming the entire tax policy of this country that was obsolete and fundamentally against every progressive thinking.

“You are a very dedicated and highly determined individual. It didn’t take much for me to decide where you fit and where you need to be to further help with the economy.

“It is a very challenging job because we look at the fiscal policy and responsibility that come with it at the time that economic stability is being experienced, but without exponential growth. It’s always very difficult, but you are fit to be there,” the president said.

Oyedele, from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance, and later attended Oxford Brookes University, where he earned a BSc in applied accounting.

He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC), joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.

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His confirmation followed nearly three hours of rigorous questioning by senators across party lines on economic and financial matters.

In response to questions, Oyedele proposed that crude sales could help insulate the economy, stabilise government revenues, and provide more predictable fuel pricing for citizens.

According to him, by locking in prices for a portion of Nigeria’s crude production, the government could guarantee budget financing and reduce the impact of sudden international oil price swings.

“One strategy used in several countries is selling crude forward. Nigeria can lock in a price for a portion of our crude for a period of time.

“That would guarantee budget financing and also give Nigerians stability, so prices are not fluctuating the way we have seen in recent days,” he said.

On the non-payment of contractors due to limited revenue, Oyedele advocated for awarding contracts according to available funds to prevent a “trust deficit premium.”

He explained that such a premium means that a contract initially costing N1 billion could rise to N2 billion to cover losses caused by delayed government payments.

Addressing Nigeria’s revenue base, Oyedele noted that too much focus had historically been placed on taxation and oil revenues, while other sectors, such as mining, hold significant potential.

“For many years as a country, we have disproportionately focused on taxation and oil and gas, and that has taken our attention away from other areas where we can generate revenue,” he said.

He added, “What we have identified as the biggest impediment to the growth of the solid minerals sector is policy uncertainty.

“The team and the Minister for Solid Minerals have been doing a lot, but we need to complement that with a policy certainty environment. We may be coming to the National Assembly in this regard.”

Oyedele stressed the need for realistic budgeting and proper execution of approved projects.

“When we have budgets, we need to ensure that there is funding behind them and that there are releases so that we can execute them 100 per cent if possible — particularly for capital expenditure.

“Looking at Nigeria’s budgets over the past five years, many appeared too ambitious compared to the revenue.

“We were focusing on expenditure without paying enough attention to the revenue side,” he said.

He also highlighted that nearly half of Nigeria’s budgets were currently deficit-financed.

“Today, if you combine the federal and state governments, nearly half of our budgets are deficit-financed. We need to pay more attention to realistic revenue to drive our projects,” Oyedele said.

He emphasised the need for prudent government spending to address inflationary pressures and ensure that revenues from subsidy removal directly benefit Nigerians.

“If the government gets more revenue because subsidy has been removed, it is actually a transfer from the people to the government.

“The only way we can make that sacrifice worthwhile is to spend that money in areas of priority for the people,” he said.

Oyedele also expressed confidence that investments in infrastructure linking farms to markets could deliver rapid economic benefits.

“Those priorities can be as basic as roads from the farm to the warehouse, to the factory, and to the markets. When that happens, people see the impact almost immediately,” he said.

In his remarks following Oyedele’s confirmation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Oyedele describing him as having expertise and suitable for the role.

Source: NAN

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Tinubu’s request is contained in a letter addressed to President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and read at the plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu said the nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of the 1999  constitution.

“In compliance with the provisions of section 147(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, I am pleased to forward to the Senate for confirmation the nomination of Mr Taiwo Oyedele as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“While I hope that this request will receive expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept Distinguished Senate President the assurances of my highest regards,” the president said.

Akpabio thereafter referred the nomination to the committee of the whole for consideration.

“Well, in line with our practice and as a result of the urgency, this is referred to the Committee of the Whole for further consideration,” Akpabio said.

Source: NAN

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Last week has been hugely significant in Nigeria’s contemporary history. The plaudits arising from the announcement of Executive Order 9, aimed at curbing opacity in the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and instilling transparency and accountability, had barely receded when President Bola Tinubu made two other important decisions in quick succession.

The President appointed Olatunji Disu, then an Assistant Inspector General of Police, as the new Inspector General of Police. On Monday, March 2, 2026, the Police Council formally ratified Disu’s appointment in line with the constitution. And just one day after the Council ratified Disu’s appointment, President Tinubu also elevated the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Dr Taiwo Oyedele, to the position of Minister of State for Finance. He replaced Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, whom President Tinubu deployed to the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in the same capacity.

Both appointments were generally well received by security and public finance stakeholders, indeed by many Nigerians. Disu’s choice is important because it would help reinvigorate the police force in the fight against crime. Oyedele’s appointment is just as crucial because it will further strengthen transparency and accountability in government.

In addition to being part of the ongoing moves to recalibrate and strengthen the machinery of government, the two appointments will help foster efficient service delivery.

To surmise that both men are round pegs in round holes is tantamount to an understatement, given their pedigree. Both have distinguished themselves, as evidenced by their record of service over the years.

The choice of Disu signals a strong commitment to professional policing and operational effectiveness. Disu is an excellent operations officer who has held many critical positions within the police hierarchy. He shone brilliantly as Officer-in-Charge, Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ondo and Oyo states from 2011 to 2014; Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Kidnapping in Rivers State, 2014- 2015; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Rivers State, 2014 -2015; and Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Lagos from 2015 to 2021.

He had been Commissioner of Police in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, at different times. His last two postings before his appointment as IG were as Assistant Inspector General of Police in Charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, and as AIG, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Force Headquarters, Abuja.

All these were operational positions, and Disu discharged the responsibilities creditably. The roles imbued him with practical insights into modern policing and intelligence-led operations. With three Master’s degrees in Criminology and Security, Public Administration, and Entrepreneurship, Disu is well-equipped for the office.

So, the President’s charge to the new IG was unequivocal: restore peace and strengthen security nationwide. While decorating Disu, the President said, “I made this decision for you to assume this responsibility. I know your record. I saw the dedication you exhibited while you were in Lagos when I was governor.”

Taken together, these appointments underscore a broader governance philosophy that prioritises merit, competence and strategic fit.

He also told the new IG to rebuild public confidence in the police’s capacity to do their job in collaboration with other security forces.

“Lead firmly but fairly, demand professionalism at every level and ensure that the safety of lives and property remains your highest priority. It’s a daunting challenge. I know you can do it. You have my word; you have my full support.”

By appointing an officer of high calibre, such as Disu, to lead the police force, the President has undoubtedly given greater impetus to the fight against crime. President Tinubu is resolutely committed to ensuring that state police is firmly established in Nigeria, creating a pathway for community policing. Disu’s appointment is a nod in that regard. Most crimes are committed at the local level, where state police can benefit from local intelligence. This is the strength of community policing.

Contrary to the rather lukewarm posture of the immediate past police boss, Kayode Egbetokun, towards state police (he even publicly opposed the move), Disu is a staunch advocate. Just a few days after he was named IG, he established an eight-member implementation committee for the state police.

However, unless the National Assembly amended the 1999 Constitution to provide for state police, little can be achieved. The federal parliament must amend the constitution, specifically altering Section 214, which provides for a single police force for the country – the Nigerian Police Force – and put in place a framework for state police. Remarkably, Disu has already demonstrated his commitment to bringing about that necessary change. His initial steps are reassuring indicators of the future in terms of security and other related matters for the force and the nation under Disu’s leadership. The thread between security and economy is unmistakable. A secure environment is an enabler of investments and overall prosperity in the land.

Like Disu, what recommended Oyedele for the ministerial position is his record of service, integrity and competence, as particularly demonstrated in his handling of the tax reforms. Oyedele was not only passionate about the reforms but also truthful in their defence and lucid in communicating the changes.

Importantly, he has a solid background in economics and accounting.

Oyedele brings over two decades of professional experience to the job. This includes 22 years at PwC, where he rose to become Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader. The new Minister of State is also a professor at Babcock University and a visiting scholar at Lagos Business School. So, he brings a rare blend of private-sector expertise and public policy experience to the financial architecture of government.

Taken together, these appointments underscore a broader governance philosophy that prioritises merit, competence and strategic fit. By placing an experienced crime fighter at the helm of the police and an accomplished fiscal reformer in the finance ministry, President Tinubu is clearly aligning leadership capacity with national priorities.

But these expertise and reputation put an enormous weight of public expectation on both men. This means they should neither lower their guards nor the standards of excellence and good performance for which they are reputed. They must not lose steam in fulfilling their responsibilities. This is the time to gird their loins further and get energised to do even more. The criminal elements on the prowl in some parts of the country must be totally subdued.

Also, it is expedient to demonstrate greater prudence and insight in the governance process, particularly in budget implementation and the allocation of financial resources. It’s only through a superlative performance in their new positions that they can justify the confidence reposed in them by President Tinubu and meet the expectations of Nigerians.

*Rahman is a Senior Assistant on Media & Special Duties to President Tinubu.

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Uzoka-Anite will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, made the announcement in a press statement on Tuesday.

He said President Tinubu had today conveyed the nomination of Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma, HND, in Accountancy and Finance.

He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in Applied Accounting.

He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.

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How does a writer of evident intellect, claiming ex-World Bank credentials, channel his time and talent into crafting falsehoods designed to incite mass disaffection, rather than illuminate truth for societal good?

Emmanuel Orjih’s viral essay on Nigeria’s new tax laws exemplifies this: it alleges President Tinubu’s tax reforms he called “Bola’s Tax” forces low earners like 20-year-old “Joseph” (₦75,000 monthly village wage) into income tax, proving “Nigeria’s poor are about to start paying taxes.”

Most claims are either fabricated anecdotes or exaggerated distortions that collapse against the actual laws, as clarified by Taiwo Oyedele, chair of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee.

Far from burdening the vulnerable, the policy exempts them entirely, delivering more take-home pay than the old system, and targets high-end evasion to fund essential services like roads and schools.

Claim 1: Joseph on ₦75,000 Pays Tax After Pension, Proving the Poor Now Owe Income Tax

Orjih recounts grilling FIRS officials at an Abuja event, where they allegedly U-turned to admit Joseph’s ₦75,000 salary (minus 8% pension = ₦69,000 taxable) falls into a tax bracket under the new rules. It’s a compelling anecdote: subsistence youth dragged into the net.

The Reality: This math ignores the reform’s foundational exemptions. The tax laws establish a zero-tax band up to ₦800,000–₦1.2 million annually (₦67,000–₦100,000 monthly), explicitly shielding national minimum wage earners (₦70,000) and those slightly above after consolidated reliefs: 20% of gross income plus fixed allowances for housing, transport, and dependents.

Oyedele has clarified: low earners like Joseph pay no PAYE or less than before, with 98% of Nigerian workers seeing higher net pay due to scrapped nuisance taxes and expanded reliefs.

Joseph’s full salary stays in his pocket, with actually more disposable income than under prior uneven collections. The “U-turn” is a fabrication born of selective arithmetic.

Claim 2: Everyone Earning Under ₦190,000 Monthly Is “Poor”, So Taxing Them Hits the Vulnerable

Orjih invokes World Bank authority (he’s ex-staff) to define poverty at $4.20/day, converted to “approximately ₦190,000 per month.” Since Joseph earns ₦75,000, he’s poor, and taxing him indicts the policy.

The Reality: Orjih’s ₦190,000 derives from abusing parallel market rates ($126 × ₦1,450 = ₦183k, rounded up), a deliberate distortion. This is methodologically wrong because World Bank poverty lines use Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) conversion factors, not black market exchange rates. PPP accounts for what money actually buys locally, not forex speculation. Nigeria’s 2023 PPP factor (₦519/int’l $) yields ₦65,375/month, or ₦75,000 with 2025 inflation. NBS national poverty line: ₦52k-₦55k/month (2025-adjusted).

By expanding “poor” to include lower-middle earners (₦75k-₦190k), Orjih manufactures outrage where 50+ exemptions shield micro-businesses (<₦25M-₦100M turnover), farmers, and low-wage salarymen.

Claim 3: “Widening the Tax Base” Means Reaching Down to the Poor, the Wealthy Already Pay

With elites “long in the net,” Orjih argues expansion can only mean “the poor, livestock, or ghosts”, and we know which.

The Reality: Official documents target non-compliant high earners, digital platforms, luxury assets, and untaxed sectors, not village gardeners. Personal income rates stay progressive (0–25%), with reliefs pushing most into zero/low bands. No across-the-board hikes; instead, simplification eliminates levies hitting informal workers.

Europe funds gleaming roads and schools from broad bases, Nigeria builds toward that without evasion culture, exempting the vulnerable while formalizing elites.

Claim 4: High Inflation and 9 Economic Ills Make This “National Economic Suicide”

Orjih lists inflation, unemployment, and weak growth as barring any tax shift, warning of shrinking compliance and deepened poverty.

The Reality: Inflation has plunged from 33.88% (mid-2025 peak) to 14.45% (Nov 2025), the lowest in over three years, thanks to harvests and naira stability.

Reforms launch amid improvement, not crisis. Globally, governments tax progressively to deliver services; Nigeria’s version boosts low earners’ pockets (per Oyedele) while curbing leakages, fostering growth and trust through visible delivery by February–March 2026.

Orjih’s essay sows doubt with emotional stories and bad math, but the new tax reforms advance fairness: protects the poor, funds public goods, and counters evasion.

Low-wage Nigerians will soon see unchanged, or higher payouts, proving policy over propaganda.

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Banks have already sent out notices to their customers on the payment of a N50 stamp duty on any transfer above N10,000. E-hailing Cab drivers have raised the alarm on what they termed double VAT deductions from their fees. Some Nigerians are considering closing down their bank accounts and electing to keep the little they have under their pillows at home, no thanks to the new tax regime. To worsen matters, there is so much misinformation and propaganda around the new tax regime, and the Federal Government has not helped to address the controversy that has dodged the gazetted Tax Act in the last couple of days. Our new tax umpire, Taiwo Oyedele, has declared that the tax Act is set to favour the masses and the down-trodden as little or no tax would be deducted from their monthly pay. He says that the intention of the government is to widen the tax net and ensure that rich Nigerians pay more taxes as it is done all over the world. However, many Nigerians find it difficult to believe him, signifying that they do not trust their leaders – especially when it comes to money matters. And when trust is lacking in any human endevour, truth becomes the first casualty.

It is a well-known fact that rich Nigerians pay little or no tax at all. They have a way of evading tax payments, and when it becomes inevitable, they pay peanuts and carry on with their lives. Many Nigerians in the informal sector are not adequately captured in the tax net. Oyedele wants to put a stop to that.

Since the establishment of his committee in August 2023, Oyedele has done a yoeman’s job of giving the nation a new tax system similar to what is operational in most advanced nations of the world. The outcome of the tax-focused deliberations was a set of four laws: The Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, which repeals the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and creates the Nigeria Revenue Service with an expanded mandate,  the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025 – which establishes a uniform legal and operational framework for tax administration; the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025 – which creates a governance structure and oversight mechanisms, and the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 – which harmonizes the country’s multiple tax laws.

According to Oyedele, some of the highlights of the reforms are to have a simpler, fairer, and more transparent tax system that would achieve the objectives of putting people first; unlocking business growth; energizing capital and access to finance; correcting economic distortions; advancing progressivity; encouraging formalization; ensuring equity; combating evasion and avoidance; improving tax administration and governance, and harmonizing the tax system. In the official gazette published by the government, we are told that “the reforms create a tax system that Nigerians can trust, one that works for the benefit of all.” However, these two issues of trust and benefit have been the main problems with the reform process and its outcomes from the very beginning.

The first major hurdle Oyedele and his committee faced was the objection to the proposed tax reforms by Northern elites and state Governors over changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) system. The main objection was about the proposed amendment to the VAT Act, which would allocate revenue based on the “derivation principle” that is, VAT funds would be distributed to states based on where goods and services are consumed and where the headquarters of the businesses generating the taxes are located.

Northerners kicked, stressing that this will place them at a disadvantage because many businesses have their headquarters in the South, particularly Lagos. They protested that the proposed amendment would reduce their share of VAT revenue while also alleging that they were not consulted by the Tax Reform Committee to accommodate their inputs.

But Oyedele stated in his response that the Northern Governors were, in fact consulted, and that they made inputs into the review of the Tax laws. The noise generated by the controversy was loud and soon became politicized, pitching Northern Governors and opinion leaders against their Southern counterparts.  As expected, the country became divided. Ethnic and religious sentiments added fuel to the fire. The whole process was delayed for almost a year, as Oyedele and members of the National Assembly had to return to the drawing board. The tax reform committee eventually found itself negotiating with the Northern Governors all over again, and at the end of the day, rather than a 60% derivation-based sharing of VAT, a compromise formula of 50% equality, 30% derivation, and 20% population was agreed upon. A political solution was found and the tax bills were eventually passed by the lawmakers. The Senate and the House of Representatives soon met to harmonise the different versions of the laws they came up with and a clean copy of the harmonised version sent to the President for his assent. President Tinubu gave assent on June 26, 2025.

With his presidential signatory, two of the New Tax Acts took effect immediately, while the other two took effect on January 1, 2026. However, during plenary on December 17, 2025, an opposition party member of the House of Representatives, Abdus-samad Dasuki (PDP, Sokoto), stated that his rights as a lawmaker had been breached following discrepancies in the harmonized versions of the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the version gazetted by the Executive. He added that having spent three days to review the gazetted copies and the harmonized version adopted by both Chambers, he observed discrepancies in both. With that statement, Dasuki re-opened another round of controversies around the tax laws. The lower chamber set up an investigative committee to look into Dasuki’s allegation. If proven to be true, that would be a serious indictment on the Executive and there would be dire consequences. Neither Tinubu nor Oyedele have the power to alter any bill passed by the National Assembly.

The tax laws and its implementation would definitely define the directions the 2027 general elections will take.

In the event that the executive objects to any bill passed by our lawmakers, the appropriate thing to do is to withhold assent and return the bill to the Assembly stating reasons for refusal. Section 58 (4) of the 1999 Constitution was explicit on the matter. The National Assembly may amend the bill further in response to the stated reasons for refusal or override the Executive with a two-thirds majority as stated in Section 58(5). But to unilaterally rewrite a bill of the National Assembly and gazette a different version would be the very height of impunity and executive lawlessness. Many Nigerians are calling for the suspension of the Act pending the completion of the investigation, but President Tinubu as the tax man can no longer wait.

In his New Year message to Nigerians on January 1st, Tinubu said that the new tax laws will commence as scheduled, dismissing suggestions of any delay or reversals, and describing the reforms as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to establish a fair, competitive, and resilient fiscal framework for the country.

He stressed that the tax laws were not intended to increase the tax burden on Nigerians, but to reset the fiscal structure, promote harmonisation across the system, and strengthen the social contract while protecting citizens’ dignity.

Addressing reports of possible alteration to some provisions of the new laws, the President said that no substantial issues have been identified that would justify disrupting the reform process and cautioned against what he described as “premature and reactive decisions”, noting that trust in governance is built through consistent and well-considered actions over time.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to due process and the sanctity of laws duly enacted, adding that the Presidency would continue to engage with the National Assembly to ensure that any concerns identified during implementation are resolved swiftly.

The contentious sections are basically in the Tax Administration Act, and the specific areas of focus have been identified as Sections 27(3), 29(3), 41 (8), 60 (1). The complaint is that several oversight, accountability, and reporting mechanisms approved by the National Assembly have been removed. Oyedele, in response, has said that government worked not with the version of the House of Representatives, but with the harmonized copy submitted by it.

In Nigeria, as it is in several parts of the world, nobody likes the tax man, and so it has been in our history. During the colonial era, the tax man was the most unpopular member of the Nigerian community. Our forefathers ran into the bushes on learning of the approach of the tax man. This would later lead to conflicts as witnessed in Lagos in 1916, when the colonial government introduced Water Rates to generate revenue to fund infrastructure, specifically the Iju Water Works, built in 1915.  The people and the Oba protested.

In 1929, we had the Aba Women’s Riots in the Eastern Province of Nigeria, where the women protested against the taxation of women amongst other things. There were also the Iseyin/Okeho tax riots of 1917, the Adubi War of 1918, the Ogbomoso Tax riots in 1925 and 1955, the anti-tax riots in Warri Province (1927/28), and tax riots in Aba and Onitsha in 1956. In 1946, still in colonial Nigeria, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, “the Lioness of Lisabi,” led Egba women in protest against what she and her followers considered the unfair taxation of women by the colonial authorities. They chased the then Alake of Egbaland, Ladapo Ademola, away from his throne for a whole year, 1949 – 1950.  They argued that there could be “no taxation without representation.” During the colonial era, the main issue was the burden of taxation, and additional hardship on the people.

In contemporary times, the average Nigerian is concerned about trust. Even if the people are willing to pay these taxes, they do not believe that the additional revenue will translate into better governance or improved infrastructure for the masses. Would we have better healthcare and qualitative education? Will our dilapidated roads that have become death traps for travellers receive the much-desired upgrade from the government? Will the standard of living of average Nigerians become better with constant power supply? These are germane questions that those forcing the new tax laws down the throat of Nigerians need to answer.

Must Nigerians hold the view that the additional revenue collected would only be used to fund the conspicuous consumption of the ruling elite, and nothing much would come out of the whole exercise for the masses.

Here lies the major problem confronting the Tinubu’s administration. We, at this end, will watch and monitor how the new tax laws would be implemented and the accrued benefits for the masses. The tax laws and its implementation would definitely define the directions the 2027 general elections will take.

See you next week.

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Lagos, Sanwo-Olu disclosed, had been readjusting its revenue portal in readiness for the harmonisation of the new tax law expected to take effect in January, stressing that the state would effectively play its role in aligning the policy with practice and strengthen inter-governmental collaboration.

Sanwo-Olu spoke at the Tax Reform Summit organised by the Lagos State government.

The two-day event holding at Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, is jointly hosted by the Office of the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue and the State Treasury Office, with the theme: “Tax Reform Summit: The Lagos Implementation Road Map”.

The governor said Lagos had been operating within a national fiscal framework, noting that the state remained fully aligned with the ongoing tax reform initiated by the Tinubu administration.

Sanwo-Olu dismissed critics who argued that the reforms would put more burden on the poor and further strengthen the hand of the rich, pointing out that the new tax law sought to simplify the nation’s tax regime by reducing multiplicity, strengthening administration, and modernising revenue collection through technology.

He said: “The new tax laws initiated by Mr. President are fundamentally designed to create a system that supports economic growth at sub national level while ensuring fairness, predictability and improved compliance. Contrary to its critics’ baseless assumptions, the new tax law will protect small businesses and ensure that the rich fulfill their obligations to the society. It will block leakages and expand the tax net.

“Instead of making futile attempts to undermine the progress, we must give kudos to President Tinubu for taking the bold steps he is taking, considering the fact that the pains are gradually giving way for the gains. We will welcome a system that will reduce multiplicity, strengthen administration and modernise revenue collection through technology. Only an audacious, confident and experienced leader can make these bold reforms.”

“The success of the tax reform journey will depend not only on legislation at the federal level, but on effective implementation at the state level. Lagos is ready to play its leadership role by aligning policy with practice, strengthening inter-governmental collaboration, and maintaining continuous engagement with the private sector and professional bodies,” he added.

Sanwo-Olu said the national tax reforms resonated with Lagos’ “long-standing approach” to public finance, noting that the state faced unique development pressures that demand sustainable, internally-driven revenue solutions.

The summit’s focus, the governor said, signalled the state’s readiness to move beyond policy conversations to practical implementation.

He said the approach adopted by the Lagos State government towards the new tax framework was to encourage governance reform anchored on simplicity, transparency, digital efficiency and fairness.

“Lagos State is positioning itself as a leading sub-national in the implementation of these reforms. Our focus is not merely compliance with new frameworks, but effective execution that delivers real value to citizens and businesses,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, noted that Lagos remained a trailblazer in fiscal innovation and revenue administration, but the new tax framework presented both a challenge and an opportunity to build a tax system that would not only be more efficient but also equitable and conducive to sustain the state’s economic growth.

The commissioner said: “The success of the tax reform is intrinsically tied to the synergy between the state and our 57 local governments. We must harmonise our efforts, eliminate duplication, and present a unified, taxpayer-friendly front. We must ensure data-driven implementation.

“Property enumeration, digital mapping, and the integration of the Payer ID with the National TIN are not academic exercises. They are practical, technical steps we must master. A fair, transparent, and data-backed property valuation system is fundamental to unlocking the sector’s full potential and achieving our ambitious revenue targets.”

Guest speaker and chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, noted that quality and accurate data was crucial to the effective implementation of the tax law.

In the new tax regime, Oyedele said the federal government would provide policy direction and harmonisation, while the states and local government would carry out implementation, administration and service delivery.

He said the standardisation of the tax system would lead the country away from fragmented, discretionary and opaque tax practices.

Lagos, he said, must take up the challenges thrown at it by the new tax framework and pilot solution which other sub-nationals could emulate.

“In Nigeria today, the number of active tax paying individuals is under 10 million for the whole country. If our people are committed to their tax obligations, that is the number we should have for Lagos State alone based on the population of active workers,” Oyedele said.

Chairman of Lagos Inland Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Ayodele Subair, said the revenue collection agency had finalised a targeted awareness programme to educate Lagosians on the new tax law.

He said: “A structured reform implementation programme was subsequently established to guide coordinated execution, digital alignment and institutional capacity building.

“Sensitisation has been deliberately phased, allowing national guidance from the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms to provide a consistent baseline.”

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The president of the association, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, made the declaration on Monday at a press conference held on Monday to announce the activities lined up to mark its 55^th anniversary.

The activities which include Anniversary Awards and Recognition Dinner is scheduled to hold on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on the importance of education to the growth of the nation, Oyedele said: “Education is the seedbed of every nation’s greatness. If we nurture it, Nigeria will flourish. If we neglect it, the consequences will touch us all.”

He therefore called on government, the private sector and Nigerians in general to pay particular attention to education.

His words: “We call on government at all levels to make education the true priority it deserves to be. Policy declarations must translate into sustained funding, accountability, and implementation.

“We call on the private sector to see investments in education not as charity, but as enlightened self-interest. The future workforce, the innovators, and the entrepreneurs who will power their businesses tomorrow are sitting in our classrooms today.

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“And we call on every Nigerian citizen, and especially every alumnus, to give back. Whether through mentorship, financial support, or advocacy — every contribution matters.”

Expressing the commitment of the association to the development of education, Oyedele urged all alumni, friends, and partners of the University of Lagos to support the event.

He said beyond the glamour, the event would mobilise direct support for projects that would touch lives and improve the quality of education at the University of Lagos towards scholarship support for bright but indigent students and support for critical infrastructural development aimed at further propelling the University of Lagos among the best in the world.

He emphasized the challenges facing education as including inadequate funding that leaves schools struggling to deliver quality education.

Others, he said, included the alarming brain drain — with best-trained minds leaving for greener pastures abroad; a curriculum gap, where too often, what is taught does not match the needs of today’s labour market or prepare graduates for tomorrow’s jobs and the persistent challenge of welfare for teachers, lecturers, and researchers — the very people tasked with shaping the minds of the next generation.

The association applauded the federal government for its special attention to the funding of education and the introduction of novel innovations to improve the quality of education all levels.

“Worthy of mention is the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to provide loans for students in tertiary schools. In addition the Government of a President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently offered full scholarship to students of vocational and technical colleges.  The Government has also increased the percentage of the budget allocation to the education sector in the midst of various other needs,” Oyedele said.

Speaking on the dinner and award night, Oyedele said the occasion would be used to raise fund to support their alma mater, University of Lagos.

The Special Guest of Honour at the occasion will be Vice President Kashim Shettima, while the chairman will be the Olor’ogun Dr. Sonny Kuku.

Other dignitaries are expected to grace the event.

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