New tax laws will attract investment, protect low-income earners – Expert

A tax policy expert, Uzoma Kelechi, has said that Nigeria’s newly enacted Tax Reform Acts will stimulate investment, enhance revenue generation, and promote equity in the tax system.

Speaking during a virtual capacity-building workshop organized by the Tax Justice and Governance Platform in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Kelechi described the reforms as a deliberate shift towards a progressive, pro-poor framework.

“In the past, the tax system was narrow and regressive, placing a heavier burden on everyday Nigerians.

“The new tax laws, introduced through recent Finance Acts and the 2025 Tax Reform Bills, will broaden the tax net and ensure that wealthier individuals, large corporations, and luxury consumption contribute a fairer share”, she said.

Kelechi noted that the reforms would simplify the tax structure while reducing overdependence on oil revenue.
“For citizens, this means a simpler, fairer, and more inclusive system that protects the most vulnerable. With the new law, the poor will breathe”, she added.

The tax expert also commended President Bola Tinubu for spearheading the reforms, saying they would provide significant relief for low-income earners.

In her own paper at the workshop, CISLAC’s Programme Gender Officer, Dolapo Asaolu, said the workshop aimed to close the knowledge gap among civil society members, especially those in the FCT chapter of the platform.

“There’s a clear knowledge gap when it comes to the new tax laws. If civil society organisations are to effectively advocate and educate the public, we must first understand the laws ourselves“, Asaolu said.

The Host of the FCT Tax Justice Platform, Mr. Botti Isaac of Social Action, stressed the need to link the reforms to the informal economy.
“Our objective is to understand how these reforms impact informal sector operators and develop advocacy strategies to improve their implementation”, he said.

The workshop ended with a call for continuous public education, transparent enforcement, and inclusive implementation to ensure Nigerians, particularly those in the informal sector, fully benefit from the reforms.