President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to sign into law four transformative tax reform bills today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in what is being described as a historic step towards restructuring Nigeria’s revenue administration and improving the ease of doing business.

According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the signing ceremony will be attended by key figures including the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Senate and House Majority Leaders, chairmen of the finance committees in both chambers, and governors’ representatives. Also expected at the event are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The four bills to be signed are the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.

The Nigeria Tax Bill, which focuses on ease of doing business, aims to consolidate Nigeria’s numerous and overlapping tax laws into a single, harmonised statute. The bill is expected to reduce the multiplicity of taxes, streamline processes, and create a more predictable fiscal environment for investors and taxpayers.

The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill seeks to provide a unified legal and operational framework for tax administration across the federal, state, and local governments. It is designed to standardise tax procedures, improve compliance, and protect taxpayer rights.

Another key piece of legislation, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, will repeal the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act and replace it with a more autonomous and performance-driven agency—the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). The new agency will be empowered to collect both tax and non-tax revenues and will incorporate enhanced measures for transparency, accountability, and efficiency.

The fourth bill, the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, aims to formalise intergovernmental cooperation on tax matters. It will establish a Joint Revenue Board to coordinate revenue administration across all levels and create mechanisms such as the Tax Appeal Tribunal and Office of the Tax Ombudsman to address disputes and grievances.

The reforms are part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to improve revenue generation, boost investor confidence, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on volatile oil earnings.

“The signing of these bills marks a critical milestone in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda,” the statement said. “It signals the administration’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment while ensuring a transparent and accountable tax system.”

Once signed into law, the new tax framework is expected to improve voluntary tax compliance, streamline tax collection, and strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal position—laying the groundwork for increased domestic and foreign investment.

The tax reforms come at a time when the federal government is pushing through sweeping economic changes, including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange rate unification, and aggressive debt restructuring.