- Tax reforms will benefit Nigerians – Oyedele
BY EDMOND ODOK – With scepticism heightening around the January 2026 kick-off date for the new Tax Act, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) says measures are in place to adequately sensitise Nigerians on the benefits of the tax laws.
Accordingly, the Agency said it is important to counter the wrong narratives being spread by those genuinely ignorant of the tax laws’ provisions or those acting out of mischief and an ulterior motive to undermine government’s efforts at improving the nation’s tax system.
Director General of NOA, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, gave this assurance when members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, led by its chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, visited the Agency in Abuja.
Issa-Onilu, who noted that technology has made it easy for mischievous persons to effortlessly spread fake news and wrong narratives about the new tax laws, expressed NOA’s resolve to drive public support for the effective implementation of the reforms.
He said the new Tax Law will benefit Nigerians having specifically addressed the issue of double taxation that companies, business people, workers, individuals and investors are presently experiencing, among other issues.
While underscoring NOA’s ability to reach wide audiences across the country with its advocacy and national enlightenment campaigns, Isaa-Onilu said the Agency maintains a wide spread of offices nationwide with competent staff who regularly undertake community mobilisation and sensitisation to promote government policies and national values.
He also highlighted the Agency’s ability to work intelligently, identifying the different demographics across the country and applying the communication models appropriate to reach and appeal to each demographic.
According to him: “We have done mapping across the country for engagements with all Nigerians; that is why we can engage groups such as associations, CSOs, Traders union, leaders, women groups, youths and many others.
“We do engagements with different groups across the country, and our staff are usually chosen from among the people so the people trust them; that is part of the advantage we have.”
Furthermore, he said the extensive partnerships that NOA enjoys with media houses across the country is part of its strength to communicate policies to every nook and cranny in the country.
“We work with over 200 radio stations across the country, and partner with 36 television stations, all put together broadcasting in about 72 local languages,” he said.
Also pointing out that the Agency is leveraging modern technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence, to disseminate government information, the NOA Chief Executive said, “We launched our own version of ChatGPT called CLHEEAN, a special Voice/Chat Assistant where Nigerians can engage and get authentic information on all government policies”
Importantly too, he told the visitors that “these are tools we have to assist and support the Committee in sensitising Nigerians on the new tax laws.”
In his remarks earlier, the Tax Reforms Committee Chairman, Mr. Oyedele said they were st NOA to seek support in pushing out the right information about the new tax laws and countering the wrong narrative currently pervasive in the media and other public spaces.
He said: “We believe that working together with NOA will ensure the passage of accurate information to Nigerians, even to those at the grassroots to know the benefits of the new tax laws.
“We observed that there is a lot of misinformation to people especially those at the grassroots, including farmers, concerning the law. And the aim of such is to make them hate the government ignorantly.”
For Mr Oyedele: “Though we are engaging multinationals, but Nigerians at different levels and from the different tribes and languages need to know the benefits they will get from the said law and support it.
“We may need to create scenarios and have farmers, students, CEOs and others to say what the reform can do for them. These can counter the wrong narratives by some content providers that are against the law.”
He said when Nigerians are properly sensitised and become aware of the benefits to be derived from the new tax law, they will readily embrace it as being in their best interest.
The meeting agreed that a joint committee of NOA and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms be formed to pursue the agenda of communicating the tax reforms properly and effectively to the public.
Highlight of the Tax Reforms Committee’s visit was the presentation of the new tax laws to the NOA boss, Malam Issa-Onilu by the Tax Reforms team and the presentation of the National Value Charter plaque to the Committee Chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele by the NOA leadership.
The Tax Reforms Bill was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June this year as part of efforts to simplify and strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system.
