Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and Arewa socio-cultural groups have thrown their weight behind the commencement of Nigeria’s new tax regime, expressing support for President Bola Tinubu and the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) despite ongoing legal challenges and criticism from opposition parties.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a joint statement, the groups said the smooth take-off of the new tax framework underscored the Federal Government’s preparedness and coordination, noting that a ruling by the Federal Capital Territory High Court had cleared the way for implementation from January 1, 2026.
They commended President Tinubu and the Executive Chairman of the NRS, Mr Zacch Adedeji, for what they described as a hitch-free rollout of the policy, despite concerns raised by political parties and civil society organisations.
Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo said the launch of the tax regime demonstrated the administration’s commitment to strengthening revenue generation and improving fiscal discipline, stressing that an efficient tax system was vital to national development.
“A transparent and efficient tax system is critical to national development,” the group said, urging Nigerians to support the reforms in the broader interest of the country.
Similarly, Arewa groups praised the leadership of the President and the NRS for proceeding with the reforms in line with the administration’s economic agenda, adding that early concerns and court actions did not disrupt the implementation process.
They also acknowledged the role of the judiciary, saying recent court rulings provided the clarity needed for the timely commencement of the tax laws.
According to the groups, if properly managed and sustained, the new tax regime would boost government revenue, reduce dependence on borrowing and improve the delivery of infrastructure and social services nationwide.
Their comments came as President Tinubu reiterated that the tax laws would take effect as scheduled, despite calls by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a suspension over alleged discrepancies between the harmonised and gazetted versions of the legislation.
In a statement titled “New Tax Laws Will Commence On January 1, 2026 As Planned,” the President said: “The new tax laws, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will continue as planned.”
He added: “The tax laws are not designed to raise taxes, but rather to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.”
Tinubu also said his administration was open to working with the National Assembly to resolve any issues identified during implementation, insisting that “no substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process.”
However, the PDP maintained its stance that the commencement date should be suspended pending a full investigation into alleged insertions in the tax laws.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said: “Nigerians have demanded a thorough investigation of this anomaly and sought to know who carried out the illegal insertion and how it was done.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja dismissed an application seeking to halt the rollout of the tax regime, ruling that there was no legal basis to stop the implementation of laws that had already been enacted and gazetted.
Delivering the ruling, Justice Bello Kawu held that fiscal policy reforms fell within the lawful powers of government, adding that any perceived errors in the legislation could only be addressed through legislative amendment or a substantive court order.
Against this backdrop, Ohanaeze and Arewa called for sustained engagement between the government and stakeholders to maintain public confidence in the reforms, while reiterating their support for measures aimed at repositioning the Nigerian economy.
