The Federal Government has pledged to sustain open and inclusive consultations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and key economic stakeholders ahead of the full implementation of the new tax reforms in Nigeria slated for January 2026.
Speaking at the maiden edition of the Government–Private Sector Dialogue Series: South-East Finance and SMEs Growth Roundtable held in Enugu, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, assured that the administration of President Bola Tinubu would not implement the tax laws without meaningful dialogue.
According to Edun, the government’s fiscal and structural reform agenda aims to create a more transparent, efficient, and fair tax system that supports sustainable growth, attracts investment, and eases the burden on compliant taxpayers.
“The dialogue you ask for will play a big role,” he said.
“There needs to be dialogue, and there must be dialogue.
Even the feedback we are hearing here today shows the need for more explanation and clarification.
When it comes to major reform, it’s all about timing, sequencing, and consultation.”
Transparency and Fairness in New Tax Reforms in Nigeria
Edun noted that the tax reforms in Nigeria have been designed after extensive collaboration among government institutions, professional bodies, and civil society stakeholders.
The new laws, he said, would take effect on January 1, 2026, ushering in a modernized framework that reduces duplication, broadens the tax base, and eliminates arbitrary levies.
He emphasized that the reforms aim to simplify payment processes, improve fairness, and ensure that every sector contributes equitably to national development.
“The objective is to make the tax system fairer, clearer, and more efficient,” he said.
“We also want to widen the net so that everyone contributes in line with their capacity while reducing multiple payment points that frustrate businesses.”
The minister added that recent fiscal measures introduced under the Renewed Hope Agenda were already showing results, particularly in stabilizing the foreign exchange market and liberalizing petroleum pricing.
“Now, we have a level playing field, a market-based foreign exchange system, and fair pricing for petroleum products.
This relieves importers of the challenges they used to face and brings greater predictability to the business environment,” he added.
Automation and Trade Facilitation Under the New Tax Policy
As part of efforts to complement the tax reforms in Nigeria, Edun announced that the Federal Government was working on a National Single Window Project to streamline trade processes through automation, digitization, and artificial intelligence.
The initiative, scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2026, is expected to improve transparency in customs operations, reduce bottlenecks, and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global trade.
“The idea is to use technology to simplify procedures, make trade easier, and speed up logistics processes,” Edun explained.
“This will go hand in hand with the new tax framework to improve government revenue and ease of doing business.”
Uzoka-Anite: Tinubu Is the Most Business-Friendly President
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, praised President Tinubu’s commitment to private-sector partnership, describing him as “the most business-friendly president Nigeria has had in recent history.”
She explained that the President’s tax reforms in Nigeria reflect his vision of an economy built on entrepreneurship, innovation, and shared prosperity.
“President Tinubu has given us a clear directive to work hand-in-hand with the private sector to remove every obstacle standing in the way of enterprise growth,” she said.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not just a policy framework but a social contract designed to rebuild confidence, stimulate productivity, and drive a private-sector-led economy.”
Uzoka-Anite also highlighted various initiatives under the Ministry of Finance to enhance access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
These include targeted interventions through the Bank of Industry (BOI), Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), and the Presidential Initiative on Consumer Credit.
“SMEs are the engines of Nigeria’s economic revival,” she said.
“Through improved access to credit, we are empowering small businesses to expand, create jobs, and contribute to economic stability.”
Customs Emphasizes Compliance and Innovation
During the roundtable, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Emmanuel Oshoba, urged importers and traders to embrace transparency and innovation in their operations.
He said the Nigeria Customs Service had introduced digital tools and a ruling system that allows importers to obtain pre-approval on classification and valuation before shipment, ensuring seamless clearance at the ports.
“Most of you have issues because of documentation.
We now have a system where, before you make your importations, you can approach Customs for a ruling. It is legally binding, and it makes clearance seamless. Let us be partners in progress, not adversaries,” he advised.
Sustaining the Reform Dialogue
Edun reaffirmed the government’s determination to sustain dialogue and ensure inclusiveness in the reform process.
He said that by keeping consultations open, the Tinubu administration would ensure that the tax reforms in Nigeria truly reflect the collective interest of citizens, businesses, and investors.
“This is an ongoing dialogue,” he said. “We have participants here who want to see this effort sustained, continued, and even built upon. You have our full support anytime, any day.”
The dialogue series, according to the Finance Ministry, will continue across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, engaging private-sector players, professional associations, and regional business councils to shape fiscal policies for 2026 and beyond.
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