A Review of the Legal Framework on Tax Reform in Nigeria
Working Paper
For decades, Nigeria's domestic revenue mobilisation was hindered by a fragmented tax system, administrative duplication, a low tax-to-GDP ratio, and a heavy compliance burden on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. Nigeria's pre-reform fiscal landscape comprised numerous distinct taxes and levies collected by various federal, state, and local government agencies, creating systemic friction and elevated business operating costs. In response, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee recommended a complete overhaul of the tax architecture. On 26 June 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law four statutes, including the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025. Collectively known as the Tax Reform Acts, these statutes commenced operation on 1 January 2026