President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made it clear that there will be no delay in the commencement of Nigeria’s new tax regime, with outstanding tax laws set to take effect on January 1, 2026, as earlier scheduled.
In a statement personally endorsed by him on Tuesday, the President described the tax reforms—some of which were signed into law on June 26, 2025—as a historic turning point aimed at building a stronger, fairer, and more competitive fiscal system for the country.
Tinubu stressed that the reforms are not designed to impose additional tax burdens on Nigerians. Instead, he said they are meant to restructure the tax system, improve coordination, protect citizens’ dignity, and reinforce trust between the government and the people.
According to him, the reform agenda has now moved fully into the implementation phase, and there are no compelling reasons to suspend or reverse the process.
“Trust is earned by consistently making sound decisions, not by yielding to pressure or taking rushed actions,” the President noted.
He reaffirmed his administration’s respect for due process and the sanctity of laws duly passed, adding that his government would continue working closely with the National Assembly to promptly address any emerging concerns.
Tinubu also assured Nigerians that the reforms are being pursued in the overall public interest, with the goal of creating a tax framework that supports economic growth, fairness, and shared responsibility.
Earlier, following a high-level meeting with the President on December 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed that the final phase of implementation—covering the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act—remains firmly on track.
Oyedele explained that the decision to proceed was guided by the people-focused nature of the reforms, which are structured to ease the burden on low-income earners and small businesses.
Government projections indicate that about 98% of Nigerian workers and 97% of small businesses will either be exempt from paying taxes or experience a significant reduction in their tax obligations under the new framework.