Wetin we go talk now, my pipo? Zacch Adedeji, the oga for Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), don come talk say, those allegations wey dey fly around say dem change tax laws after National Assembly don pass am, na big lie! E carry mouth tell us say, na only gazetted laws be the real deal wey don carry legal power.
For interview wey e do for Arise TV, Adedeji clear am say, the whole matter of lawmaking no dey hide at all. Once wey Presido sign law, e go enter National Assembly, dem go gazette am, and na only that one dey count. Na so law work for we country, no be draft or debate fit change am o!
Dis whole gist don make many pipo talk! Some legislators and commentators dey shout say dem see wahala wey dey between wetin dem discuss for chamber and wetin finally come out. But according to Adedeji, those claims no get any solid ground. E yan say, constitution dey clear, no act go fit operate without presido signing am and dem gazetting am.
If we go check the figures, Nigeria tax-to-GDP ratio don improve small-small, rising to about 13.5% as of October 2025. But e still dey far behind average for Africa as other countries dey shine pass us for tax matters. Adedeji talk say, dem dey look for way to tax profits, not capital investment. “We no go tax poverty; we dey profit make we go tax wetin dey arise,” na wetin E talk.
Make we no forget, NRS dey begin fresh start as dem don change am from the former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Dis move no be ordinary branding; e be total upgrade wey go change the way Nigeria dey manage tax matters. Adedeji talk say, na through digitization and proper data gathering dem go run this new system.
Before now, Nigeria get over 60 tax laws, some worse pass some! E enter even before we sabi wetin e mean to go digital. E dey plan to make compliance easy for everybody which go make things flow better for citizens. Tax matters suppose no be rocket science, abeg!
Adedeji still talk say, dem go consolidate different functions wey scatter for plenty agencies before this reform come. He even yan say, this whole idea no be to just put money for government pocket, but to upgrade how we dey do revenue collection.
As people dey resist the reforms, E no dey surprised. Na normal human behavior be that when change come chop dem interest. But wetin we fit do be to focus on wetin we dey achieve with the reform and make sure say everybody sabi wetin dey happen!
This one na chance for NRS to show say dem dey serious about things wey concern taxpayers. Adedeji rally the pipo say, implementation go show if real changes dey happen for tax system! “The law no dey hide again; e be public matter. And our duty na to run am well and transparent,” na wetin e conclude.
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