Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has thrown his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s tax reforms, describing them as the most ambitious overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal framework in decades.
Dogara however emphasized the need for transparency and sustained implementation to build public trust.
Dogara made his position known while delivering the maiden Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organized by the House of Representatives Press Corps at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
The lecture titled “Navigating Tax Reform in Nigeria: Insights on President Tinubu’s Policies”, examined the origins, scope, and expected impact of the tax reforms enshrined in the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025 and related legislation.
The former Speaker said President Tinubu inherited a troubled economy riddled with “economic debris,” including excessive deficit financing through Ways and Means, dual exchange rates that enriched a few at the expense of many, and crude oil forward sales tied to foreign loans.
“By the time President Tinubu took office, N22.7 trillion had been printed and injected into the economy, destroying the value of the naira. Some anointed people were making hundreds of millions off forex allocations without producing any goods or services whatsoever,” he said.
He argued that these structural distortions made urgent reforms inevitable.
Dogara maintained that the tax reform abolished multiple sectoral levies, replacing them with a single 4% development levy, while new provisions bring digital gains, crypto assets, and foreign exchange earnings into the tax net.
Dogara addressed concerns over a 5% fuel surcharge captured in the new Act, saying it was not a new tax but a restatement of an existing provision in the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act, 2007.
He stressed that the surcharge would not apply to household energy products such as kerosene, cooking gas, or compressed natural gas, and would only take effect after the Finance Minister issues an official gazette order.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen commended President Bola Tinubu’s bold tax reforms, describing them as a decisive step toward simplifying compliance, broadening the tax net, and easing the burden on ordinary Nigerians.
Abbas was represented by the House Spokesperson and Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi Jnr.
He said the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, chaired by Taiwo Oyedele, and the harmonisation of tax collection processes set to take effect in January 2026, represent “a significant intervention that promises to re-engineer our tax administration architecture for greater efficiency, fairness, and transparency.”
The Speaker praised the House of Representatives Press Corps for convening the lecture and commended the inaugural guest lecturer, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, as a statesman whose insights would provide intellectual grounding to the ongoing discourse on fiscal reforms.
In a presentation, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom and called for stronger collaboration between the media and tax authorities in deepening public understanding of ongoing fiscal reforms.
Special Assistant to the FIRS Chairman on Tax Policy, Olufemi Olarinde, who represented the Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, acknowledged the historic role of the press as the “fourth estate of the realm,” stressing that its influence on public opinion makes it indispensable to the success of Nigeria’s economic and tax reforms.
He urged journalists to go beyond surface reporting by fully acquainting themselves with the new tax laws, insisting that effective communication of reforms can only come from deep understanding.
Olarinde assured that under Adedeji’s leadership, the FIRS will remain open and accessible to the media as partners in national development.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), also threw its weight behind ongoing tax reforms in Nigeria, urging the government to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in their implementation.
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani said the reforms, if properly implemented, would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal position and ensure that taxes serve the interests of citizens rather than being diverted through loopholes and weak enforcement.
A member of the House of Representatives, Jafaru Leko,expressed support for the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms, describing them as a welcome development that will simplify taxation, boost revenue, and promote fairness in the system.
The lawmaker commended Dogara for his leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s legislative progress, recalling that several key institutions and initiatives, including the Trans-Pol framework, were established during his time as Speaker.
Highlighting key aspects of the reforms, he noted that they include the facilitation and simplification of taxation, value-added tax exemptions for small businesses, the establishment of a stronger revenue service, improved collaboration on joint revenue collection, and a renewed emphasis on economic growth, transparency, and accountability.
He stressed the need for regional balance in implementing the reforms to ensure no part of the country feels shortchanged. According to him, the public hearings conducted during the passage of the bills gave citizens the opportunity to understand both their rights and responsibilities under the new system.
Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Grace Ike, called on the government to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective deployment of tax revenues to infrastructure development as it pursues sweeping tax reforms under President Bola Tinubu.
Ike said the reforms represent bold steps toward modernizing Nigeria’s fiscal system, broadening the tax base, and reducing over-dependence on oil revenues.
“Tax reform is pivotal to Nigeria’s economic growth, fiscal sustainability, and social development. Under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, we are witnessing bold steps aimed at modernizing and strengthening our tax system,” she said.
Chairman of the House of Representatives Press Corps, Gboyega Onadiran, on his part, said taxation has become one of the most contentious issues in Nigeria today, with multiple narratives circulating about petroleum tax, data tax, and requirements such as the National Identification Number (NIN) for bank operations.
He said the newly introduced Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture is designed to bridge the gap between the legislature and the public by simplifying parliamentary activities and clarifying national issues.
“As journalists, the mirror of society and agenda setters, we believe this forum offers a unique opportunity to unpack these grey areas and simplify parliamentary activities for Nigerians,” he said.
The Press Corps chairman explained that the aim of the lecture is to create a platform where distinguished parliamentarians, past and present, can share knowledge and provide clarity on topical national issues through the lens of the legislature.
“This is vital, because the legislature remains the most misunderstood arm of government in Nigeria,” he added.
Onadiran described the inaugural guest lecturer, former Speaker Yakubu Dogara, as a statesman whose insights would enrich discourse on tax reforms and national development.
“As Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives, he presided over the passage of historic bills, setting legislative records, and distinguished himself as a bridge-builder committed to deepening democracy and promoting good governance,” he noted.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture, Philip Nyiam, said the initiative marks a new chapter for the Press Corps, positioning journalists as agenda setters and contributors to national development beyond routine reporting.
Nyiam said the Press Corps was determined to expand its role by enlightening Nigerians on issues of national interest.
“This is a novel in the history of the House Press Corps. It is part of efforts to change the narrative where journalists are seen as only reporting press releases, statements and conferences. As the watchdog of society, we are also agenda setters and we also enlighten society on key issues of national interest,” he stated.
He explained that the lecture was organised to demystify President Tinubu’s tax reform agenda, which has sparked apprehension and debate since the law came into effect.
According to him, the event provides a platform to address controversies around the reforms and their place in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration.
“This will be the contribution of the Press Corps to the growth of our nation and the sustenance of democracy and good governance,” Nyiam added.
He said the choice of the guest lecturer, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the 8th House of Representatives and current Chairman of the National Credit Guarantee Company Ltd., was deliberate, given his experience, courage, and record of legislative achievements.
Nyiam expressed confidence that the deliberations would enrich national discourse on tax reforms and governance.
