Nigeria’s National Assembly has transmitted the four tax reform bills to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent following the harmonization of the versions of the bills by the Red and Green Chambers of the Legislature, representing a major step in the current administration’s drive to modernise the Nigerian tax system.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed the transmission during a press briefing held Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
The bills – Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and Nigeria Tax Bill, had been the subject of intense debate, particularly in northern Nigeria, where several governors and stakeholders expressed concerns that the reforms might undermine regional interests.
Adaramodu said “these bills have now been transmitted. It is out of our hands and on its way to the executive,” adding that the legislative process was thorough, involving rigorous legal and procedural reviews to ensure compliance with existing laws.
Adaramodu further clarified: “Tax bills like these require careful scrutiny. Legal departments in both chambers ensured alignment with existing statutes before the final transmission to the Presidency. Once harmonised, the Clerk of the National Assembly prepares the documents for endorsement by the Senate President and House Speaker.”
President Tinubu had in November 2024, sent the tax reform bills to the National Assembly for passage, describing them as part of the components of his administration’s fiscal strategy, aimed at expanding the national tax base, improving collection efficiency, and strengthening coordination between federal, state, and local governments.
Both the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, had endorsed the draft bills for enactment into law.
Akpabio had earlier commended the efforts of the lawmakers in the National Assembly, describing the passage of the tax reform bills as a reflection of “strategic leadership, national interest, and inclusive legislative engagement.
“These landmark tax bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected, administered, and shared across Nigeria”, the lawmaker added.
It would be recalled that the harmonised versions of the bills were adopted by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 25, 2025.
