Nigeria will enforce sweeping new tax laws from January 1, President Bola Tinubu said, rejecting calls to delay implementation amid political controversy.
The president described the reforms as a critical step to strengthen revenue, improve efficiency, and reset a system long plagued by leakages.
Tinubu’s announcement follows a turbulent first year marked by subsidy removals and two sharp devaluations of the naira currency.
Those measures rattled households and markets, but the government argues they cleared the path for deeper fiscal restructuring.
Opposition lawmakers have challenged the tax laws, claiming the gazetted version includes provisions never approved by parliament.
They warn the alleged insertions could grant tax authorities extraordinary powers, including asset seizures without court approval.
Analysts say the dispute has raised constitutional questions and fuelled uncertainty among investors and businesses.
Tinubu dismissed the criticism, saying no substantial issue had been identified to justify stopping the reform process.
In a statement, he acknowledged public debate but insisted the reforms had reached the delivery stage.
He urged citizens and businesses to support implementation, framing the overhaul as a once-in-a-generation fiscal reset.
The president pledged to uphold due process and work swiftly with lawmakers to address legitimate concerns.
Despite lingering tension, the government appears determined to press ahead, betting the reforms will reshape Nigeria’s fragile finances.