Nigeria will begin enforcing a new set of tax laws on January 1, President Bola Tinubu said on Tuesday, pushing ahead with reforms despite mounting criticism over alleged discrepancies between the signed legislation and the version approved by lawmakers.
The decision confirms the government’s determination to overhaul Nigeria’s tax framework as part of a broader effort to raise revenue and strengthen public finances after a year of painful economic adjustments.
Tinubu said there was no basis for delaying the implementation, rejecting claims by opposition lawmakers that the gazetted laws contain provisions never passed by the National Assembly.
“Our administration is aware of the public discourse surrounding alleged changes to some provisions of the recently enacted tax laws,” Tinubu said in a statement. “No substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process.”
The president urged businesses and citizens to support the reforms, describing the rollout as firmly in its execution phase and critical to resetting Nigeria’s fiscal system.
Opposition lawmakers have raised alarms that the final text gives tax authorities broad new powers, including the ability to seize assets without court approval and require upfront payments before disputes are heard.
They argue those measures were not approved during legislative debates and could amount to constitutional violations if enforced.
Analysts say the controversy risks undermining confidence in the reforms at a time when Nigeria is seeking to attract investment and stabilise its economy.
The tax overhaul follows major policy shifts under Tinubu, who took office in 2023 and moved quickly to remove fuel subsidies and devalue the naira twice in an effort to correct long standing imbalances.
Government officials say the new tax laws aim to widen the tax base, reduce inefficiencies, and improve collection in Africa’s largest economy.
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Tinubu described the changes as a once in a generation opportunity to reset Nigeria’s fiscal structure and fund public services more sustainably.
While insisting the reforms will proceed on schedule, Tinubu said his administration would work with lawmakers to address any concerns through due process.
He pledged that dialogue with parliament would continue and that legitimate issues would be resolved without slowing implementation.
Nigeria’s tax authorities are expected to issue further guidance ahead of January to clarify enforcement procedures, according to reporting by Reuters.