President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), a high-level body tasked with coordinating and executing Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws as the country prepares for a major fiscal transition beginning January 1, 2026.
The decision was announced on Friday in a statement released by Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who described the committee as a critical component of the administration’s broader strategy to modernize Nigeria’s tax system and strengthen public financial management.
According to the statement, the committee will be chaired by Mr. Joseph Tegbe, an experienced tax professional and Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, will provide executive oversight, while Mrs. Sanyade Okoli, the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy, will serve as Secretary.
Also named as members were Ismaeel Ahmed and Rukaiya El-Rufai, though the full list of the committee’s composition has not yet been released.
A Central Pillar of the Administration’s Economic Reform Agenda
President Tinubu described the NTPIC as vital to achieving his administration’s economic renewal objectives. He emphasized that the new tax laws—signed earlier this year—are designed to improve fairness, transparency, efficiency, and digital compliance across Nigeria’s revenue ecosystem.
“These new Tax Acts reflect our commitment to building a fair, transparent, and technology-driven tax system that supports economic growth while protecting the interests of citizens and businesses,” Tinubu said. He added that the committee will ensure “coherent, effective, and well-aligned implementation across all levels of government.”
The committee’s mandate is broad. It includes ensuring seamless coordination among federal agencies, harmonizing policy implementation across states, and engaging with private sector stakeholders, civil society groups, and professional bodies. The NTPIC will also drive public awareness campaigns to support nationwide understanding of the new laws before they take effect.
Strengthening Coordination and Policy Alignment
Nigeria’s complex, multi-layered tax system has long been criticized for duplication, inefficiencies, and inconsistent enforcement. The NTPIC is expected to address these challenges by aligning the operational work of key revenue institutions—especially the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which will transition into the new National Revenue Service (NRS) under the updated legal framework.
The committee will also be responsible for synchronizing existing tax practices with the provisions of the four new tax reform laws:
-
Nigeria Tax Bill
-
Nigeria Tax Administration Bill
-
Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill
-
Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill
These reforms stem from the recommendations of the Taiwo Oyedele–led Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, inaugurated in 2023 to overhaul Nigeria’s revenue architecture and reduce the country’s overreliance on borrowing.
Broader Fiscal Context
Earlier this month, President Tinubu appointed Dr. John Nwabueze as Nigeria’s first Tax Ombudsman, an office created under the new Joint Revenue Board Act to protect taxpayers’ rights and resolve disputes.
Meanwhile, FIRS Chairman Zacch Adedeji—who will lead the transition to the National Revenue Service—confirmed that the tax reform laws will become operational on January 1, 2026. He noted that the six-month window before implementation is intended for planning, stakeholder sensitization, and alignment with Nigeria’s fiscal calendar.
The establishment of the NTPIC underscores the administration’s intention to move swiftly toward a more efficient, predictable, and investment-friendly tax environment—one that supports sustainable revenue growth without imposing undue burdens on businesses and citizens.
