No going back on January 1 tax law commencement — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday said the implementation of the new tax laws, including those enacted on June 26, 2025, and the remaining acts scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, will take effect as planned.

In a statement he personally signed, Tinubu said the reforms represent “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive, and robust fiscal foundation” for the country.

The President clarified that the new laws are not intended to increase taxes, but to support a structural reset, drive harmonisation, and protect dignity while strengthening the social contract.

He urged all stakeholders to support the implementation phase, which he said is now “firmly in the delivery stage,” adding that no substantial issue has been identified that warrants a disruption of the reform process.

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

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to due process and the integrity of enacted laws, pledging to work with the National Assembly to resolve any issues promptly.

He assured Nigerians that the government would continue to act in the overriding public interest to ensure a tax system that promotes prosperity and shared responsibility.

It had been reported earlier that following a high-level meeting with

Tinubu on Friday, December 26, 2025, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, confirmed that the final implementation phase—specifically covering the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act—is firmly on schedule.

According to Oyedele, the decision to proceed is rooted in the “pro-people” nature of the laws, which are strategically engineered to shift the tax burden away from the vulnerable.

The reforms promise a significant economic cushion, with the government projecting that nearly 98% of Nigerian workers and 97% of small businesses will either be fully exempt from taxes or see their liabilities drastically reduced.