Tax Reforms Cut Over 50 Levies to Nine, Says JRB
Nigeria’s tax reform programme has significantly reduced the number of revenue collection items administered by state and local governments, with more than 50 previously existing levies streamlined into nine, the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) has said.
Executive Secretary of the JRB, Olusegun Adesokan, disclosed this at the 160th meeting of the board in Kaduna on Wednesday, held under the theme, “One Year of Tax Reform: Assessing Progress and Addressing Challenges.”
Adesokan said the reforms were gradually bringing an end to the era of multiple and overlapping taxation, which he said had created unnecessary burdens for taxpayers and businesses across the country.
He explained that 18 state Houses of Assembly had so far domesticated the model Harmonised Taxes and Levies Law as part of efforts to eliminate duplication and overlapping taxes across Nigeria’s subnational governments.
According to him, the model law also abolished cash collection and the use of roadblocks as mechanisms for revenue collection.
Adesokan said the measures had contributed significantly to efforts to harmonise taxes and levies at the state and local government levels, while improving the administration and collection of public revenue.
Addressing concerns that the tax reforms could increase the burden on citizens, the JRB executive secretary said the opposite was the case.
He said the reforms were designed to reduce pressure on low-income earners and micro-scale businesses by eliminating multiple nuisance taxes and providing targeted relief.
Adesokan commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for hosting the JRB meeting and for his continued support for the tax reform initiative.
Sani: Reforms Boosted Revenue
Declaring the meeting open, Sani backed the ongoing reforms, saying they had not only helped reduce duplication in taxation but had also contributed to improved revenue generation.
The governor said Nigeria’s tax revenue had increased substantially since the reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu began taking effect.
According to Sani, national revenue rose from approximately N10.1 trillion in 2023 to N21.6 trillion in 2024, before reaching about N36.8 trillion in 2025.
“In the first half of 2026 alone, revenue reached approximately ₦21.6 trillion, representing a 49 percent increase over the corresponding period of the previous year,” he said.
Sani praised Tinubu for what he described as “the bold and politically demanding decision to fundamentally reform Nigeria’s tax architecture through landmark legislation, including the Act that transformed the former Joint Tax Board into the Joint Revenue Board”.
“That decision reflected a profound understanding: that a modern economy cannot be sustained by an outdated, fragmented or overly complex revenue system,” he said.
“Nigeria requires a tax architecture that is coherent, predictable, efficient and capable of supporting national development without unnecessarily constraining enterprise and investment.”
Sani Commends Adedeji
The Kaduna governor also commended Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the JRB and executive chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), for what he described as “exceptional leadership and statesmanship” in driving the country’s tax reform agenda.
Sani said Adedeji’s contribution went beyond technical expertise, noting that his leadership had reflected an understanding of the broader objective of reforming the tax system to improve revenue mobilisation while making the process simpler, fairer and more predictable for taxpayers.
“Reforms of this magnitude inevitably require courage. They demand the patience to build consensus, the discipline to stay the course and the institutional imagination to turn legislation into effective administrative practice. Mr Adedeji has demonstrated these qualities with distinction,” Sani added.
The governor said the reforms were aimed at simplifying Nigeria’s complicated tax environment, eliminating multiple and overlapping taxes, deploying technology and e-invoicing to reduce revenue leakages, and consolidating revenue administration.
He added that the reforms were also focused on “rebuilding the relationship between government and the taxpayer”.
According to Sani, sustainable taxation cannot be built on coercion alone but must be anchored on fairness, transparency, predictability and trust.
The officials said continued implementation of the reforms would be critical to creating a more coordinated revenue system while improving the ease of doing business and strengthening the relationship between taxpayers and government.