The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Mr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, has declared that Nigeria’s tax laws cannot be suspended, insisting that only amendments through the National Assembly can alter existing legislation.
Adedeji made the assertion on Sunday while speaking on ARISE News, amid growing debates and calls by some groups for protests against the newly implemented tax reforms taking effect this year.
According to him, once a law has been duly passed by the National Assembly and assented to, no individual or group has the authority to suspend it outside the constitutional process.
“The National Assembly is law. If there is anything to be done, it is through amendments. Nobody can suspend a law,” Adedeji said. “So when you see people calling for protests or rallies to stop the reforms, you need to examine their motives.”
He explained that the tax reform laws underwent extensive legislative scrutiny, including six to seven months of public hearings, stressing that opportunities were provided for stakeholders to raise objections or propose changes during the process.
Adedeji expressed concern that resistance to the reforms is emerging only now that implementation has begun and benefits are becoming visible.
“If people are beginning to see the results and suddenly there is agitation, you must ask: who benefits from stopping these reforms? It can never be the poor,” he said, adding that the reforms are designed to protect ordinary Nigerians and promote fairness.
The NRS boss praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as courage and political will in pushing through the reforms, noting that the administration’s objective is national prosperity.
“The interest of Mr. President is to make sure Nigeria prospers. That is his motivation—together we rise, together we prosper,” Adedeji stated.
He explained that the tax reforms focus on consolidating multiple fragmented tax laws into a single, simplified framework aimed at reducing compliance costs and easing the burden on taxpayers.
“This reform is about taxing rights, not just taxing laws,” he said. “It is a one-stop shop that lowers compliance costs and ensures taxpayers are not overburdened.”
Adedeji also agreed that more public enlightenment is needed, urging government agencies, the media, and other stakeholders to intensify efforts to educate citizens, including translating the tax laws into local languages to improve understanding.
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“The media and all Nigerians have a role to play in educating the people on the importance of these reforms,” he added.
The new tax laws, which came into effect in 2026, form part of the Federal Government’s broader fiscal reforms aimed at boosting revenue, improving efficiency, and supporting economic growth.
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