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Tax Reform Bills: Extricating Nigeria From Economic Cesspit
By Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi
On March 13, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Reform Bills. The Senate is expected to debate the bills after its current recess, resuming plenary on April 29, 2025. Once the Senate passes them, they will be sent to the President for assent. This is the final stretch.
What comes to mind when you hear the word reform? What do you think of when you hear Tax Reform Bill? After all this time, many Nigerians now have a clearer understanding of what is happening. But when you think of it, who do you envision? There is no other person than the man of the people: Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
After taking office in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a situation that required urgent action. Our tax system had been plagued by inefficiencies, low compliance rates, and inadequate coverage. The country also faced challenges like the need for more transparency, improved coordination between federal and state tax authorities, and the lack of a clear, modernized tax framework to support long-term economic growth.
President Tinubu was fully aware of these shortcomings before and after assuming office. The one thing he could do was put a capable man in charge: the Tax Boss. The government made tax reform a priority in its broader economic agenda, and Dr. Zacch has demonstrated commitment in ensuring these reforms are efficiently implemented.
The Tax Boss knew that no matter how brilliant the reform looked on paper, it had to work in practice. Under his leadership, FIRS accelerated internal reforms, digitized processes, automated over 80 percent of returns processing, and integrated new modules into the TaxProMax system to make compliance easier and smarter. This is what Nigerians needed: we are not waiting for change; we are making it happen.
By the end of 2024, four draft bills emerged: the Nigeria Revenue Service Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Taxation (Consolidation) Bill, and the Joint Tax Board Bill. Each was designed to streamline laws, harmonize tax administration, and expand the tax base without overburdening taxpayers. The National Assembly opened its doors to scrutiny with public hearings, tough questions, governors’ perspectives, and expert feedback. Some proposals were revised, such as the decision to retain the current VAT rate.
On March 13, 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Tax Reform Bills. The Senate is expected to debate the bills after its current recess, resuming plenary on April 29, 2025. Once the Senate passes them, they will be sent to the President for assent. This is the final stretch.
But let’s not forget how we got here. It took presidential will, expert input, and above all, Dr. Zacch, the Tax Boss himself. The Tax Boss has not only championed this process; he has owned it with clarity, purpose, and results. With continued execution and the right structures in place, the tax reforms will build a stronger system for everyone, from government to everyday Nigerians.
Tax Reform Bill is not just another trend. It’s the change we have been asking for. Most importantly, it is here to stay.
Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi is the technical assistant on broadcast media to the executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service
Featured
Menstrual Hygiene: ‘Access PADme A Girl’ Educates IDP Women, Distributes Reusable Pads, Other Items
…Launches Pad Bank in IDP Camps
Joel Ajayi
A non-governmental organisation, Access PADme A Girl, is working tirelessly to uplift disadvantaged communities through a campaign focused on menstrual hygiene awareness and safety.
As part of this effort, the group recently distributed over 2,000 reusable menstrual pads, books, food items, and other essentials to girls and women at the Durumi IDP Camp in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Speaking at the sensitization event held on Thursday, the Convener of Access PADme A Girl Initiative, Theresa Moses, emphasized that the initiative aims not only to empower young girls but also to alleviate the financial burden associated with menstruation.
“We came here to distribute free, reusable sanitary pads to the women at Area 1 Durumi IDP Camp,” she said. “The goal is to create awareness and address the issue of period poverty.”
She further announced the launch of a pad bank at the camp, stating, “With the pad bank, women and girls will be able to access menstrual pads every month during their cycles. Many of them have been using tissue paper, dirty rags, or even leaves, which pose serious health risks. We are here to change that narrative by educating them on proper menstrual hygiene and how to use reusable sanitary pads.”
In addition to the hygiene kits, the initiative provided educational materials to young girls in the camp to encourage continued learning.
“We encourage mothers to support their daughters’ education, especially in reading and writing. We also provided them with food items, water, and snacks. This isn’t just a distribution event—we want them to feel valued and supported,” she added.
Theresa also shared plans to expand the campaign across other IDP camps nationwide. “We are taking it step by step—camp by camp. But to sustain this initiative, especially maintaining the pad bank monthly, we need support from individuals, organisations, and government bodies.”
In her own, a childhood friend of the convener and a participant at the event, Blessing Amos emphasized the importance of supporting women’s hygiene in Nigeria.
“Statistics show that around 800 million women menstruate daily worldwide, yet only about 5 million have access to sanitary pads. That leaves 795 million without proper access. When people are struggling to afford food, sanitary products become an afterthought,” she said.
“This initiative is timely. The reusable pads provided mean these women don’t have to worry every month about affording menstrual products. We also taught them how to wash and disinfect the pads for reuse.”
She commended Access Bank for supporting the project and called on other organisations and the government to contribute to such life-changing interventions.
In her remarks, Mrs. Liatu Ayuba, Women Leader of the Durumi IDP Camp, expressed gratitude for both the sanitary pads and the valuable knowledge shared.
“I’m so happy we received these donations and were educated on how to use the products properly. Over 1,000 women here benefited today. I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned with others in the camp.”
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