National Telescope national telescope newspaper
The House of Representatives has passed the four tax reform bills transmitted by President Bola Tinubu in October 2024, clearing the final legislative hurdle before presidential assent.
The bills, which had been stalled for about three months, finally moved forward after the National Assembly held public hearings and received input from stakeholders on improving Nigeria’s tax administration system.
At the plenary session on Tuesday, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved for the third and final reading of the bills.
He stated:
- “A Bill for an Act to provide for the assessment, collection, and accounting of revenue for the Federation, Federal, State, and Local Governments, as well as prescribe the powers and functions of tax authorities, should be read for the third time.”
- “A Bill for an Act to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No.13, 2007, and enact the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill to establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, responsible for assessing, collecting, and accounting for federal revenue, should be read for the third time.”
- “A Bill for an Act to establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombud for harmonizing, coordinating, and resolving tax-related disputes in Nigeria should be read for the third time.”
- “A Bill for an Act to repeal certain taxation laws, consolidate the legal frameworks relating to taxation, and enact the Nigeria Tax Act for income, transaction, and instrument taxation should be read for the third time.”
With Speaker Tajudeen Abbas presiding, members overwhelmingly voted in favor of the bills, completing their passage in the House. The bills will now proceed to the Senate for approval, after which they will be sent to President Tinubu for assent following possible harmonization between both chambers.
The reform bills had previously faced strong opposition, particularly from lawmakers from the North, who aligned with their governors in demanding further consultations before proceeding.
