The Federal Government has introduced a comprehensive tax reform package designed to simplify compliance, ease the burden on small businesses and low-income earners, and strengthen Nigeria’s revenue system.
Speaking at a sensitisation forum held on Saturday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement, South-East zone, Mrs. Chioma Nweze, said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to making taxation fairer and more beneficial to ordinary Nigerians.
“Our women, especially market women, must understand why government collects tax, what it does with it, and how they should pay without exploitation. The president has removed fuel subsidy, unified the exchange rate, and increased allocations to states. These reforms will ensure more projects are delivered to benefit citizens,” Nweze stated.
She explained that the decision to sensitise women was deliberate, recalling that historical revolts such as the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929 were triggered by unjust taxation.
“When women are informed, they carry the message to their families and communities. We don’t want exploitative practices to return; instead, women should be empowered to benefit from government initiatives,” she added.
In his presentation, Chairman of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, South-East Zone, Barrister Chukwumeka Eze, disclosed that four new tax acts were signed into law on June 26, 2025, consolidating over 20 scattered tax laws.
According to him, businesses with an annual turnover below N50 million are now exempted from Companies Income Tax and Value Added Tax, while minimum wage earners will no longer pay personal income tax.
“This is progressive taxation. The rich will now pay more within their means, while the poor will be protected. The days when wealthy individuals paid little tax are gone,” Eze emphasised.
He further revealed that the reforms also introduced a Tax Dispute Resolution Mechanism, enabling citizens to lodge complaints free of charge, with cases resolved within 7–14 days.
A tax professional and Chartered Accountant, Mr. Innocent Chinyere Ohagwa, described the reforms as critical to strengthening Nigeria’s fiscal base, noting that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the “lifeblood” of the economy.
“SMEs account for more than 90 per cent of businesses and nearly 60 per cent of jobs in Nigeria. By removing multiple taxation and unfair levies, government is giving them space to grow, create wealth, and support economic diversification,” he said.
Also, Dr. Zino Ugboma, representing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), highlighted the role of tax revenues in expanding access to higher education. He noted that undergraduates in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education can now access tuition and living-cost loans, repayable only after securing employment, two years post-NYSC.
“This is a direct way of showing that taxation is not just about collection, but also about giving back to the people,” Ugboma remarked.
The forum, which brought together officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), women leaders, professionals, and community stakeholders, ended with a call for stronger collaboration to ensure the success of the reforms.
Participants, including Mrs. Nnenna Otuonye, commended President Tinubu for promoting a fairer tax system and urged South-East residents to embrace compliance for sustainable economic growth.
