The National Assembly has transmitted four critical tax reform bills to President Bola Tinubu for assent, marking a significant step towards modernizing Nigeria’s tax system. The bills include the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and Nigeria Tax Bill.

Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, confirmed the development during a press briefing at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja. “These bills have now been transmitted. It is out of our hands and on its way to the executive,” Adaramodu stated.

The tax reform bills had been a subject of controversy, particularly in northern Nigeria, where some governors and stakeholders believed the reforms would undermine the region. However, after rigorous legal and procedural scrutiny, the bills were harmonized and adopted by both the Senate and House of Representatives on May 25, 2025.

Adaramodu emphasized the importance of careful scrutiny in the legislative process, saying, “Tax bills like these require careful scrutiny. Legal departments in both chambers must ensure alignment with existing statutes before final transmission to the presidency.”

The final draft was signed off by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Akpabio praised the National Assembly for its “strategic leadership, national interest, and inclusive legislative engagement” in facilitating the timely passage of the bills. “These landmark tax bills will add immense value to governance and transform how taxes are collected, administered, and shared across Nigeria,” Akpabio claimed.

The bills aim to modernize tax collection, expand the tax base, and streamline fiscal coordination among federal, state, and local governments. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the transmission of the bills as a significant milestone in the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda. If signed into law, the bills are expected to significantly improve the efficiency and fairness of Nigeria’s tax system, potentially doubling the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio.