President Bola Tinubu has declared that the implementation of Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws will proceed as scheduled, including those signed into law on June 26, 2025, as well as the remaining acts set to commence on January 1, 2026.
In a statement personally signed on Tuesday, the President described the fiscal reforms as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation” for the nation.
Tinubu clarified that the new tax laws are not designed to impose additional tax burdens on Nigerians but are instead aimed at supporting a comprehensive structural reset of the tax system. He explained that the reforms seek to promote harmonisation across tax frameworks while protecting human dignity and strengthening the social contract between the government and citizens.
The President called on all stakeholders to support the implementation process, noting that the reforms have now entered what he described as “firmly in the delivery stage.” He added that no significant issue has emerged that would justify halting or disrupting the reform agenda.
“Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures,” the statement added.
Tinubu further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to due process and the sanctity of laws that have already been enacted. He pledged to collaborate with the National Assembly to swiftly address and resolve any issues that may arise during the implementation phase.
He also assured Nigerians that his government would continue to act in the overriding public interest, with the goal of establishing a tax system that encourages prosperity while promoting shared responsibility across all sectors of the economy.
Meanwhile, The PUNCH had earlier reported that following a high-level meeting with President Tinubu on Friday, December 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed that the final implementation phase of the reforms is firmly on course.
Oyedele disclosed that the phase specifically covers the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, stressing that there would be no deviation from the established timeline.
According to him, the decision to move ahead with implementation is anchored on the “pro-people” orientation of the laws, which he said were carefully designed to shift the tax burden away from vulnerable Nigerians.
The reforms are also projected to provide substantial economic relief, with government estimates indicating that nearly 98 per cent of Nigerian workers and 97 per cent of small businesses will either be fully exempt from paying taxes or experience significant reductions in their tax liabilities
