ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the importance of a transparent and equitable tax system as the cornerstone of government financing and national development, calling for bold fiscal reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.
Speaking on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, through the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, at the 27th Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, President Tinubu emphasised the need for a modernised and inclusive fiscal architecture that ensures stability and growth.
“I believe that a robust, transparent and fair tax system is essential not only for financing government operations but also for creating an environment of accountability, stability and long-term development,” Tinubu said at the conference themed “Taxation for Development: Policies, Law and Implementation.”
He highlighted the administration’s ongoing reforms, including the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which he described as a significant step toward addressing long-standing inefficiencies in the country’s tax administration.
According to the president, the committee has been mandated to simplify the tax system, broaden the tax base, reduce leakages, and align fiscal policies with national development goals.
“Members of the committee worked tirelessly to achieve their mandates, which include addressing issues of multiplicity of taxes and improving coordination between the federal, state and local government tax authorities,” he said.
Tinubu also cited the recently passed Economy Stabilisation Bill as part of the government’s legislative push to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal framework.
He urged tax professionals and policymakers present at the conference to take ownership of the country’s tax future, noting that implementation remains the true test of reform.
“This is also an occasion to discuss solutions to long-standing issues such as taxation, informal sector integration, fiscal federalism and equity in taxation,” he added.
“I urge you to engage meaningfully, challenge assumptions and craft pathways that will strengthen our tax institutions, boost revenue and ultimately improve the lives of Nigerians.”
In a related address, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, represented by Tope Fasua, Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, stressed the shared responsibility between taxpayers and the government, adding that legitimacy in taxation comes from effective service delivery.
“Taxation is crucial to the achievement of economic development,” Shettima said.
“We hope to listen to ideas at this conference around how to ensure that a stakeholder’s view is taken right from the policy enactment stage up to the point of implementation.”
He said the diverse composition of the fiscal reform committee reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive policymaking.
CITN President Samuel Agbeluyi, in his remarks, described taxation as more than a tool for revenue generation. He characterised it as a powerful mechanism for promoting equity, incentivising growth, and funding essential services.
“For taxation to truly serve developmental goals, policy formulation, legal framework and implementation mechanisms must be harmoniously aligned,” Agbeluyi said.
“The result is a tax system that engenders trust, encourages voluntary compliance and delivers shared prosperity.”
Agbeluyi praised the Tinubu administration’s focus on fiscal reforms, calling it a step in the right direction amid the nation’s complex economic, security, and social challenges.
