Experts urge media, CSOs to monitor implementation of new tax laws

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By Taiye Agbaje

Participants at a two-day training on the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), 2025, organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation, in conjunction with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja.

Experts in the economic field have called on members of the media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to monitor the implementation of the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), 2025, which fully takes effect from January 2026.

They made the call at a two-day training organised for some journalists and members of CSOs by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation, in conjunction with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop has the theme  “The Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025: An Early Review and Recommendations for the Media and Civil Society Organisations.”

Dr Christopher Kaka, the Executive Director of Trade Network Initiative, said as the fourth estate, the media should continue to act as watchdogs and champion accountability in the implementation of NTA.

Kaka urged the media practitioners to engage in independent research, analysis and monitor tax exemptions to see if they are beneficial to the public or only social interest.

He also tasked them to engage in investigative reporting with a view to expose tax evasion, fraud and corruption in the system.

Kaka equally urged the CSOs to engage with government and use the services of the courts to challenge anti-citizen’s actions and policies.

He advised the media and CSOs to initiate public debate and amplify citizen’s voices.

Mr Simeon Olatunde, who is the Coordinator, Tax Justice & Governance Platform, addressed issues surrounding misinformation and half-truths circulating on social media about the evolving tax regime.

On his part, Prof. Adetunji Ogunyemi, in one of his presentations, took participants through the history of taxation in the country and examined the impacts of various tax reforms by past administrations.

Ogunyemi, a lawyer and professor of Economic History, Obafemi Awolowo University, stated that the current administration took the most revolutionary steps on tax reforms and modernisation since 1961.

He said this happened with its enactment of the four new tax laws – 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.

He observed that government’s bold tax reform initiatives have transformed the country’s tax regime.

Besides, he said its aggressive approach to the issue of taxation has significantly increased public revenue and the sharable pool in the Federation Account.

Ogunyemi enumerated the impacts of current tax reforms to include the creation of a single statute book for the country’s public revenue, provision of a uniform procedure for enforcement and compliance to tax laws, and the simplification of the tax systems on rate, charges, structures and liability.

He said the reforms has led to improvement on the jurisprudence of taxation by clarifying powers and functions of tax authorities, through the establishment of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), formerly Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

He said it has covered the field in all tax matters in the country, consisting of the jurisdictions of the federal, states and local government councils.

He added that the reforms have also brought about the standardisation of the processes for tax administration in the areas of assessment, collection, auditing and penalties.

Ogunyemi observed that the country’s tax spaces are large and significantly untapped.

He said that the problem remains in the fact that most of the tax jurisdictions lie with the sub-nationals, that have remain indolent owing to the prevailing culture of sharing and not growing revenue, which the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has encouraged.

Earleir in his welcome address, Resident Representative of KAS in Nigeria, Dr Tobias Ruettershoff, said the objectives of the gathering included the need to familiarise the media and CSOs with the new tax laws and their roles in educating the citizens on what are expected of them.

Represented by the Programme Manager of the organisation, Mr Samson Adeniran, Ruettershoff drew examples from Germany on the importance of tax to the life of a nation and how tax issues are dealt with.

He said it was the duty of every responsible citizen to pay his or her tax without waiting to be compelled by the authorities.

CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said the enactment of the NTA, 2025 represents a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing tax reform process.

He equally observed that the country has continued to grapple with persistent challenges in its tax system, which includes inequitable tax burdens, weak enforcement, limited transparency and the marginalisation of actors in the informal sector.

Rafsanjani, however, argued that legislation alone does not guarantee justice, equity and development, but that what matters is how existing flaws are understood, monitored, addressed and communicated to the citizens.

He explained that the workshop aligns with the objectives of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJGP), a broad based coalition of civil society organisations, tax experts, media professionals, informal sector representatives and advocacy groups.

He said the platform allows for collective efforts in the promotion of fair, equitable, transparent and progressive tax systems in the country .

“The platform seeks to ensure that taxation serves as a tool for sustainable development, social inclusion and improved public service delivery, rather than an additional burden on the most vulnerable,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza

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