The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a new presumptive tax framework introducing a one per cent turnover levy for eligible informal sector businesses while prohibiting cash-based tax collection and roadblock enforcement across the country.

The policy, announced in Abuja, is part of broader tax reform implementation guidelines designed to streamline informal sector taxation in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, said the framework aims to eliminate coercive and fragmented tax collection methods, particularly at the subnational level.

He explained that all forms of cash tax collection by authorities are now prohibited, while the use of roadblocks for tax enforcement has also been outlawed.

Under the new arrangement, nano and small businesses with annual turnovers of N12 million and below are exempted from presumptive taxation.

However, other informal businesses are required to pay a flat one per cent tax on turnover, with payments channelled through digital platforms to promote accountability and efficiency.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said the signing of the regulations signals the transition from policy formulation to full implementation of tax reforms approved between 2025 and 2026.

He stressed that the reform is not aimed at increasing tax rates but at widening the tax net by integrating more informal sector operators into the formal economy.

Edun added that the regulations were jointly developed with the JRB to ensure harmonised tax administration across federal, state, and local government structures, while an ombudsman mechanism will monitor fairness in enforcement.

Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, Joseph Tegbe, described the initiative as a shift from regulatory approval to practical execution of tax reform.

He noted that although the informal sector accounts for more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce, its structured revenue contribution remains limited due to systemic challenges.

The committee will collaborate with tax authorities to ensure a transparent and orderly nationwide rollout of the new tax framework.

Directors-General of national television stations across West Africa have gathered in Cotonou to strengthen collective action against misinformation about the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and enhance public media collaboration in promoting regional integration.

The two-day meeting, organised by the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Communication with support from the German Government, brought together heads of national broadcasters and ECOWAS National Bureaus from 12 member states.

Participants underscored the importance of strengthening public television networks in countering misinformation and improving visibility of ECOWAS programmes, policies, and achievements across the sub-region.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, represented by his Senior Special Adviser, Mr. Abdoulie Gassama, highlighted the critical role national broadcasters play in shaping public understanding of regional initiatives.

He described public television stations as trusted institutions with the reach and credibility necessary to bridge communication gaps between ECOWAS institutions and citizens. He stressed that effective communication remains essential for sustaining confidence in the bloc’s peacebuilding, economic integration, and democratic governance efforts.

The meeting comes amid growing concerns over the rapid spread of false narratives on digital platforms, making coordinated media engagement more urgent. Stakeholders are expected to explore content-sharing frameworks, joint programming opportunities, and structured partnerships to ensure consistent and accurate reporting on ECOWAS activities.

Opening the session, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Administrative and Financial Committee, Komba Momoh, called for practical outcomes from the dialogue.

Represented by Ms. Laygbay Lilian Amadu, Deputy Director of the ECOWAS Country Office in Sierra Leone, she urged participants to move beyond discussions and focus on actionable strategies that would support sustained programming and broader coverage of regional initiatives.

She emphasized that stronger cooperation between ECOWAS and national broadcasters would promote transparency, counter misinformation, and encourage greater public ownership of regional policies.

The Cotonou deliberations are expected to produce concrete commitments aimed at institutionalising collaboration between the ECOWAS Commission and public television networks.

Officials said the initiative represents a strategic step toward strengthening the regional body’s communication ecosystem and ensuring that West Africa’s integration narrative is accurately projected across member states.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of all pilgrimages to Israel due to the security situation in the Middle East. Bishop Stephen Adegbite, the Executive Secretary of the NCPC, made this known in a statement signed by Mr Celestine Toruka, the Deputy Director and Head, Media and Public Relations in the commission, on Tuesday in Abuja.

“The recent developments in the Middle East, including the imposition of a state of emergency in Israel, have led to the putting on hold of all pilgrimage exercises. This also includes the ones being conducted by the private pilgrimage operators until the situation normalises. The NCPC is monitoring the situation closely and appreciates the cooperation of stakeholders and the media,” he said.

Adegbite urged everyone to pray for peace in Jerusalem and the Middle East. He revealed that the Commission has successfully concluded the 2025 Main Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and Jordan. He said that the last batch of Christian pilgrims arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on March 3.