Tinubu Signs Controversial Tax Bills into Law Despite Northern Opposition
Abuja, Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law four controversial tax reform bills, pushing ahead with a sweeping overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system despite vocal opposition from several northern governors and regional stakeholders.
The newly enacted legislations the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill were passed by the National Assembly after what federal officials described as “extensive consultations.” However, critics argue that the process lacked meaningful engagement with dissenting voices, particularly from the North.
Thursday’s signing ceremony at the Presidential Villa in Abuja was attended by top members of the National Assembly, state governors, cabinet ministers, and key presidential aides.
The Presidency claims the new laws will modernize Nigeria’s tax system, increase government revenue, and improve investor confidence both domestic and foreign. In a statement, the administration called the reforms a cornerstone of its broader fiscal agenda to “strengthen the economy and create a more business-friendly environment.”
But opposition to the reforms has been fierce in some quarters. Critics in northern Nigeria, including several governors and traditional leaders, have warned that the tax changes could disproportionately affect economically weaker states, further deepening regional inequalities and weakening state-level autonomy in fiscal matters.
“This reform appears to centralize too much power in Abuja and risks starving some states of the flexibility they need to manage their own economies,” a northern governor, speaking on condition of anonymity, told this paper.
Analysts are also raising questions about the timing and scope of the reforms, warning that without corresponding accountability measures and economic palliatives, ordinary Nigerians and small businesses may bear the brunt of the new tax structure.
While the federal government insists the reforms are essential for long-term fiscal sustainability, observers argue that the administration may be underestimating the political fallout. Tinubu, who came to power on promises of inclusive governance and national cohesion, now faces a delicate balancing act as regional tensions over resource allocation and taxation continue to simmer.
With the ink now dry on the new laws, the real test lies ahead: implementation. Nigerians will be watching closely to see whether the promised benefits materialize or whether the reforms become yet another policy move that deepens the country’s economic divides.
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Tinubu Signs Controversial Tax Bills into Law Despite Northern Opposition