Old tax laws made Nigerians poor, new systems will create opportunities, prosperity – Tinubu 

By JAMIU JAMODU

President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday in Abuja, said colonial-era tax laws impoverished Nigerians through fragmentation, multiplicity, and inconsistencies, and assured that the new reforms will deliver greater prosperity and inclusivity.

President Tinubu emphasised that the new tax system is designed to be people-centred and investment-friendly, thereby advancing the nation’s development goals.

The President made these remarks at the commissioning of the 16-storey Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Headquarters.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, were in attendance, along with ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives, private-sector leaders, and the governors of Kwara, Imo, Borno, Kogi, Plateau, and Anambra States.

President Tinubu explained that the new tax laws, which became fully operational in January, are intended to liberate the economy from the constraints of archaic laws and make it more globally competitive.

“On my inauguration day, I made a solemn pledge that we will move Nigerians from the dimness of uncertainty into the clear light of renewed hope. I committed to confronting structural weaknesses, restoring financial stability, and building an economy anchored in discipline, equity, and opportunity. Today, I stand before you to reaffirm that these words were not rhetoric; they were a covenant with the Nigerian people”.

The President commended the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Dr Zacch Adedeji, for his exceptional performance and the successful completion of the edifice, which provides a conducive working environment for 3,000 staff, along with a data processing centre, clinic, auditorium, training facilities, a gym, and a library.

He expressed delight that the NRS headquarters was completed in 30 months, after more than two decades since the foundation was laid.

“We are not gathered here merely to commission an edifice. We are here to mark a milestone in a larger national journey: the deliberate strengthening of our fiscal foundation and rebuilding of confidence in public institutions. No serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented revenue system. No government can demand trust from its citizens when taxation is opaque, inefficient or unjust.