Civil society organizations, led by the Parliamentary Support and Advocacy Network and the Civil Rights Situation Room on Economic Reforms, have backed the leadership of the National Assembly on the ongoing review of Nigeria’s tax reform laws.
The four key statutes under scrutiny — the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025; the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025; the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2025; and the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025 — represent a major overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework.
The laws, passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu earlier in 2025, are intended to simplify tax administration, enhance revenue collection, and improve the investment climate. They are scheduled to take off on January 1, 2026.
However, in recent weeks reports have emerged of discrepancies between the versions approved by lawmakers and the officially gazetted copies.
At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the CSOs, speaking through the Convener, Comrade Ogiri John, commended the Speaker and the Senate President for what they described as a “measured, constitutionally grounded, and institutionally exemplary” response to public concerns over the recently assented tax legislations.
The civic groups maintained that the scrutiny being conducted on the laws by the National Assembly is healthy for democracy but must be rooted in facts and procedure.
“Having undertaken a careful and dispassionate examination, we are convinced that the response of the National Assembly Leadership has been exemplary in its adherence to constitutionalism and institutional self-regulation,” John said, adding that the actions taken by the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas-led House and the Senate leadership are fully aligned with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Acts Authentication Act, and established parliamentary rules.
According to them, the scrutiny by the National Assembly is an admission of any deficiency, nor an erosion of authority. Rather, they explained that it represents the deliberate exercise of institutional responsibility.
The CSOs lauded the directive issued to the Clerk of the National Assembly to facilitate the re-gazetting of the Acts and to provide Certified True Copies upon request.
The move, they said, “would enhance transparency, restore public confidence, and affirm that citizens and institutions must have unimpeachable access to the authentic law”.
“The stakes are profound. These tax reform laws will fundamentally shape Nigeria’s fiscal architecture, economic incentives, investment climate, revenue mobilisation, and prospects for inclusive growth.
“Precision in law-making is not delay; it is duty. Certainty in law is not weakness; it is strength,” John added, while appealing to Nigerians, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders to exercise patience and allow the constitutional review process to conclude without undue pressure.
The civic groups reaffirmed their support for transformative economic reforms while stressing their unwavering commitment to the rule of law and institutional integrity.
