Tinubu Says Tax Laws Remain On Track

President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that the newly enacted tax laws will still take effect as scheduled on January 1, 2026, despite the ongoing controversy over alleged alterations to the legislation.

Tinubu, in a statement on Tuesday, said the tax reforms, including those that took effect on June 26, 2025, and others due to commence in 2026, would proceed as planned.

He noted that these reforms are a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation for our country.

“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,” the President said.

“I urge all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which is now firmly in the delivery stage.”

He also acknowledged the ongoing public debate over some provisions of the new tax laws. Still, the president noted that “no substantial issue has been established that warrants a disruption of the reform process.”

According to Tinubu, his administration remains committed to due process and the integrity of the laws already enacted, adding that it will work with the National Assembly to address any concerns arising from implementation.

“Absolute trust is built over time through making the right decisions, not through premature, reactive measures,” he added.

Tinubu, however, assured all Nigerians that his government will continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that supports prosperity and shared responsibility.

Tinubu’s statement comes amid continued controversy over the implementation of the tax laws. A member of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, recently raised concerns about what he described as discrepancies between the tax laws passed by the National Assembly and the versions later gazetted and released to the public.

Dasuki said his legislative rights had been breached because the content of the gazetted tax laws did not reflect what lawmakers debated and approved on the floor of the House.

“Before you can say there is a difference between what was gazetted and what was passed, we have what has not been gazetted. We don’t have what was passed,” Dasuki said.

“The official harmonised bills certified by the clerk, which the National Assembly sent to the President, we don’t have a copy to compare. Only the lawmakers can say authoritatively what we sent.

“It should be the House of Representatives or Senate version. It should be the harmonised version certified by the clerk. Even me, I cannot say that I have it. I only have what was presented to Mr President to sign.”