The Nigerian Senate has passed two of the four tax reform bills initiated by President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant step in the administration’s efforts to overhaul the country’s revenue system.
The approved bills are the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. Their passage followed the adoption of a report presented by the ad hoc committee on tax reforms, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), which addressed public concerns and controversies surrounding the reforms.
The Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill repeals the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Act of 2007 and establishes a new agency empowered to assess, collect, and account for revenues due to the Federal Government. Meanwhile, the Joint Revenue Board Bill seeks to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local tax authorities.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, announced the passage of both bills through a voice vote largely supported by the ruling party majority.
“A bill for an act to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Establishment Act No. 13 of 2007 and enact the Nigerian Revenue Establishment Act to establish the Nigerian Revenue Service… third reading taken and passed,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate also indicated that a harmonization process would commence soon with the House of Representatives, which had earlier passed its versions in March with significant amendments.
The remaining two bills—the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 and the Tax Administration Bill—are scheduled for consideration and possible passage on Thursday.
President Tinubu submitted all four reform bills to the National Assembly in October 2024. Following extensive public hearings and stakeholder engagements, lawmakers made sweeping modifications before final consideration.
