The Federal Government has reaffirmed that the implementation of the new tax laws will commence on January 1, 2026, insisting there will be no postponement despite mounting controversy and calls for a delay over alleged irregularities in the legislative process.
However, in response to public concerns surrounding the passage, presidential assent and gazetting of the laws, the leadership of the 10th National Assembly has directed the Clerk to re-gazette the Tax Acts, and issue Certified True Copies of the versions duly passed by both chambers.
The firm stance by the Executive came as the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), also known as the Pyrates Confraternity, warned that rising questions over transparency, legality and sovereignty now risk overshadowing the substance and objectives of the tax reforms.
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, restated the government’s position while briefing newsmen after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos. “We’re actually excited about the progress we’re making; and we’re looking forward to January 1, 2026”, Oyedele said.
Addressing concerns about readiness for implementation, he said preparations had been extensive and deliberate, beginning from the moment the bills were transmitted to the National Assembly in October 2024. “As you know, the Tax Reform Bills were at the National Assembly for nine months — from October 2024 until June 2025 — and for us, preparation started from day one”, he stated.
Oyedele added that the six months following presidential assent had been devoted to capacity-building, systems upgrades and nationwide sensitisation, describing the reform as an evolving process rather than a one-off event. “This kind of reform is work in progress. You never get to perfection; you get better as you go along. But we believe we’re at a point already”, he noted.
He explained that the staggered commencement of the laws was deliberate, allowing institutions created under the reforms to become operational ahead of full rollout.
On revenue expectations, he clarified that immediate revenue generation was not the primary goal of the reforms.
Oyedele said the delegation’s visit was to update the President on the status of implementation of the four landmark tax laws signed earlier this year, noting that two are already in force.
According to him, the Nigerian Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Service (Establishment) Act took effect on June 26, 2025, while the Nigerian Tax Act and the Nigerian Tax Administration Act are scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026. “The timeline remains unchanged,” he stressed.
He also welcomed the 10th House of Representatives’ intervention on allegations of alteration, assuring that the Executive remains open to legislative engagement where necessary. “These reforms are pro-people and designed to reduce the tax burden on ordinary Nigerians. That is why implementation will proceed as scheduled”, Oyedele stated.
He disclosed that under the new regime, about 98% of workers would pay either lower or no Pay-As-You-Earn tax, while 97% of small businesses would be exempt from Corporate Income Tax, VAT and Withholding Tax. Large businesses, he added, would also see a reduction in effective tax rates.
