The Nigerian government has announced plans to introduce fresh regulations and implementation guidelines aimed at curbing illegal and multiple taxation imposed by state and local governments across the country as part of ongoing tax reform efforts.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television, stating that tax harmonisation remains a key priority of the current administration.
According to him, while the Nigerian Tax Act and the Nigerian Tax Administration Act became operational on January 1, 2026, implementation has so far been concentrated at the federal level, with attention now shifting to aligning tax practices across states and local governments.
Oyedele noted that many of the complaints about excessive tax burdens stem from unauthorised levies and multiple taxes imposed by subnational governments. He said the Federal Government is working with states to enact relevant laws that will eliminate such practices, improve transparency, and automate tax collection processes to reduce corruption and enhance revenue accountability.
He revealed that 15 states have already passed the required legislation, while discussions are continuing with other states to ensure nationwide compliance with the reforms.
“Our role in the Ministry of Finance goes beyond coordinating federal agencies. It also involves working closely with state governments, and we are taking that responsibility seriously,” Oyedele said.
The minister added that the government’s immediate focus is on implementing the reforms effectively and making adjustments where necessary based on feedback from stakeholders.
The planned regulations are part of broader tax reforms initiated after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four major tax reform bills into law in June 2025. The laws include the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
The reforms, which took effect on January 1, 2026, followed extensive consultations with stakeholders across the country and were designed to modernise Nigeria’s tax administration system, improve revenue collection, and reduce inefficiencies.
Oyedele also disclosed plans to improve transparency in public finance management, stressing that government institutions should become the primary source of economic and fiscal data rather than relying heavily on international organisations for information about Nigeria’s economy.
The proposed guidelines come shortly after the unveiling of the Office of the Tax Ombud’s digital case management portal, official website, and call centre, initiatives designed to strengthen taxpayer protection and provide quicker resolution of tax-related disputes.
