The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has confirmed the rollout of its new tax laws, insisting that recent debates over the gazetted copy will not derail its reform agenda.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television, NRS Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, described the controversy as the work of those seeking to maintain the status quo.
“When you talk about controversy, like it happens with change all over the world, you have certain people who prefer things remain as they are. Some simply don’t want you to succeed. But these things should not distract us. We are focused on reform,” he said.
Dr. Adedeji emphasized that the reforms aim to ensure fair and transparent taxation, rather than increasing tax burdens. “We want to tax right, not more. Our goal is to consolidate the system, simplify processes, and make revenue administration more efficient,” he explained.
The NRS chairman added that a prosperous citizenry would make the agency’s work easier. “The relationship between tax administrators and taxpayers is like that of a vine and its keeper. The more prosperous the taxpayer, the better it is for us. When the economy grows, revenue administration has meaningful work to do,” he noted.
Profit, Not Investment, to Be Taxed
Highlighting the new approach, Dr. Adedeji assured Nigerians that the government would focus on taxing profits, not investments. “I’m not going to tax poverty; I want to tax prosperity. I’m not going to tax seed, only the fruit. The government’s focus is to remove obstacles for businesses,” he said.
Collaboration with France and Other Nations
On international cooperation, Dr. Adedeji said the NRS recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with France, similar to agreements with the United Kingdom and South Africa, aimed at improving operational efficiency.
Public Concerns Remain
However, concerns about transparency persist. Jide Ologun, a social leadership advocate, criticized the government over the fuel subsidy removal, noting that many Nigerians struggle to afford fuel and lack viable public transport alternatives.
Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough, echoed these sentiments, saying, “The handling of alterations to the passed Tax Bills was poorly managed. Nigerians still cannot see how the resources freed from fuel subsidy removal are being used for public benefit.”
Despite these criticisms, the NRS remains committed to implementing its reforms and fostering a fairer tax system.
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