By Ono Yima
The Senate has passed the final two of four landmark tax reform bills, completing a significant legislative process aimed at modernising Nigeria’s tax system and aligning it with global standards.
The bills—Nigeria Tax Administration Bill and the Nigeria Tax Bill 2025—were passed following a clause-by-clause consideration at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday. This comes just 24 hours after the Senate passed the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill 2025 and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill 2025.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio hailed the passage as a “historic milestone” that would usher in a more transparent, fair, and efficient tax regime for Nigeria.
“It has been a very rewarding week for the interest of Nigerians. These laws will ensure justice in tax administration and drive development for future generations,” Akpabio stated.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, told reporters that the bills were the result of wide stakeholder consultations, including a public hearing with over 70 organisations and religious leaders in attendance.
“We worked to align these reforms with international best practices. The president brought these bills to stimulate economic development,” Musa said.
Among the notable recommendations is the creation of a Tax Ombudsman and a Tax Appeal Tribunal to ensure fairness and redress in disputes. The Senate also expunged contentious proposals such as inheritance tax and development levies.
A conference committee has been set up to harmonise the Senate versions with those passed by the House of Representatives before forwarding them to President Bola Tinubu for assent.