'No Going Back on New Tax Law Implementation from January 1, 2026' FG Insists
By: Olufemi Orunsola
Amid reactions and insinuations of possible action suspension of the implementation of the new tax laws in Nigeria, planned to become effective from January 1st, 2026, the Federal Government has reaafirmed its decision to commence the implementation of the newly enacted tax laws as planned saying there is no going back on the implementatio.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the clarification on Tuesday in Abuja amid public controversy over reports suggesting that the gazetted copy of the Tax Administration Act had been modified.
The Minister, who revealed that there has been no alteration to the version signed into law by the President stated that the laws followed due legislative process, including consultations, deliberations at the National Assembly, and presidential assent, stressing that the Federal Government recognises only one authentic version of the tax laws.
In his words, “Government is going ahead with commencement of implementation, nothing has changed,” Idris said.
He explained that concerns about alleged discrepancies in the gazetted document had been raised at the National Assembly and noted that the executive arm would rely on the outcome of the legislature’s investigation.
“I think it is important for us to wait for the National Assembly to look at this again to tell us whether there were discrepancies or not. This is, at this point, an affair of the National Assembly to which I have no jurisdiction,” he said.
“As far as the government of Nigeria is concerned, there’s only one version of that tax document,” the minister added.
In a similar vein, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, supported the Minister's stand.
Also lending credence to the planned implementation was the immediate past Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami, both of whom urged Nigerians to disregard unofficial documents circulating in the public space.
Oyedele cautioned against drawing conclusions from unverified copies of the law, explaining that confusion had arisen over what constituted the final version approved by lawmakers. He said only the harmonised document certified by the Clerk of the National Assembly and transmitted to the President could be considered binding.
“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare. Only the lawmakers can say authoritatively what was sent,” Oyedele said.
Addressing widespread claims surrounding a controversial clause, particularly Section 41(8), which allegedly required a 20 per cent deposit, Oyedele said the provision had been misunderstood.
“I know that particular provision is not in the final gazette, but it was in the draft gazette,” he said.
He disclosed that after contacting the House of Representatives committee handling the issue, he was informed that no formal decision had been taken, attributing the confusion to premature actions by unidentified individuals.
Oyedele urged the public to exercise patience and allow the National Assembly to conclude its investigation, noting that the document circulating in the media did not originate from the committee set up by the House of Representatives.
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