Matilda Omonaiye/
The Transformative Governance Forum (TGF), a prominent think-tank pushing for policy reforms in Nigeria, has issued a rebuttal to ongoing calls for the suspension of Nigeria’s landmark Tax Reform Acts scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.
In a statement issued today, the group says the push championed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is “an unpatriotic attempt to derail a crucial framework for national economic survival and growth,” adding that the criticisms are “wrapped in constitutional theatrics but driven by political obstruction.”
The political debate around the new tax laws intensified after concerns arose about discrepancies between the versions passed by the National Assembly and those eventually gazetted. The NBA and other critics have gone as far as likening the issue to “an act of treason”—language TGF described as reckless and destabilizing.
While acknowledging the allegations raised, TGF urged advocacy groups and legal institutions to “act as pillars of stability rather than agents of uncertainty,” insisting that the National Assembly’s investigative process must be allowed to run its course without paralysing the reforms.
The group highlighted three key outcomes of the new tax framework that have been overshadowed by political uproar:
* Reduction of taxes from about 63 nationwide to roughly 10 – simplifying the chaotic tax environment.
* Boosting business productivity by eliminating multiple taxation and clarifying obligations.
* Improving efficiency using technology – including a feature allowing Nigerians to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) within seconds using their National Identification Number (NIN).
TGF also argued that complaints about “coercive enforcement” fail to recognize that modern automated tax systems globally rely on strong enforcement tools to curb evasion—a major driver of Nigeria’s revenue shortfalls and dependence on debt.
The organisation called on government institutions and stakeholders to channel energy toward refinement rather than obstruction:
For Government: Proceed with the January 1 commencement date while cooperating with the National Assembly to address any verified discrepancies formally.
For the National Assembly: Conclude its investigation transparently and swiftly to uphold constitutional integrity.
For Critics: Stop worsening “legal and policy uncertainty” that scares investors and undermines confidence.
“Nigeria stands at a fiscal precipice,” the statement reads. “These tax reforms are a painful but necessary medicine. Patriotism now lies in making the system work, not orchestrating its failure.”
TGF further noted that the reforms will particularly relieve low-income Nigerians, stating that “ridiculous bank charges on transactions will be stopped upon implementation.”
The Transformative Governance Forum is a leading advocacy coalition promoting reforms, leadership innovation, transparency, and economic policies that advance sustainable development in Nigeria.
Related posts:
Interrogating Two Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Tinubu
Beyond Enforcement: Strategies for Encouraging Tax Compliance – FIRS Director, Tobi Abiola
TGF Applauds Tinubu’s Nomination of Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau as Ambassador-Designate
Finance Act: What Experts Say about Nigeria’s Tax System at JMI Seminar
TGF Honours Steve Biko, Reaffirms Commitment to Mental Liberation and Transformative Governance
Internal Security Dynamics and the Imperative of a New Policing Thought in Nigeria