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Nigeria’s upcoming tax reforms, due to take effect in January 2026, are raising concerns over how much authority government agencies should have to collect and analyse citizens’ financial data.
While the changes aim to increase government revenue and broaden the tax base, the most controversial aspect emerging in public discussion is the level of digital oversight that may be used to monitor the earnings of remote workers and Nigerians holding assets abroad.
The reform package, enacted into law on June 26, 2025, includes four key pieces of legislation: the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSEA) 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBEA) 2025.
Together, they are designed to modernise Nigeria’s tax system, but the proposed data collection methods have sparked apprehension among privacy advocates and professionals working remotely.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, sought to reassure the public, noting that Nigeria already receives significant financial information from overseas through the Common Reporting Standards (CRS).
Under the CRS, more than 100 partner countries transmit details of foreign accounts and assets held by Nigerian residents.
Oyedele said that enhanced transparency in cross-border financial flows is a key strategy in tackling tax evasion.
He added that individuals who fail to voluntarily declare their income could be subject to presumptive assessments based on information already available to authorities.
Despite these assurances, experts in privacy law warn that without strict transparency and safeguards, the government’s approach could infringe on citizens’ rights to data protection.
