The Federal Government will in 2026 intensify the implementation of tax reforms to reduce multiple taxation and harmonise tax laws across all tiers of government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said.
The President made this known in his New Year goodwill message to Nigerians, which he personally signed, as the country entered 2026. He said the government’s focus in the new year would be to deepen fiscal discipline, simplify the tax system, and ensure that the burden of taxation is fair and transparent.
Tinubu stated that the administration has already taken steps to align states and local governments with a national tax harmonisation framework, explaining that this is aimed at reducing the excessive taxes and levies imposed on citizens and businesses. According to him, the country can only achieve sustainable development if taxation becomes fair, predictable, and designed to encourage productivity.
In his words, “We are also confronting the challenge of multiple taxation across all tiers of government. I commend states that have aligned with the national tax harmonisation agenda by adopting harmonised tax laws to reduce the excessive burden of taxes, levies, and fees on our people and on basic consumption.”
The President said the new year marks an important stage in implementing tax reforms, which are designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for the country. He explained that the administration’s broader goal is to raise revenue sustainably, eliminate distortions, and strengthen the government’s capacity to finance key sectors of the economy.
“The new year marks a critical phase in implementing our tax reforms, designed to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for Nigeria,” Tinubu said. “By harmonising our tax system, we aim to raise revenue sustainably, address fiscal distortions, and strengthen our capacity to finance infrastructure and social investments that will deliver shared prosperity.”
The President said the government expects that as inflation and interest rates moderate, more fiscal space will open for productive investments in infrastructure, education, and healthcare. He noted that with continued discipline and effective coordination between federal and state governments, Nigeria can achieve a more efficient and people-focused tax system.
Tinubu reiterated that tax reforms are part of a broader fiscal reset meant to stabilise the economy and drive long-term growth, adding that unity of purpose and patience among Nigerians will be vital to sustaining the gains of the reforms.
