Yakubu Dogara backs Tinubu’s tax reforms as the boldest in decades, praising the President’s courage to fix Nigeria’s broken fiscal system

Yakubu Dogara backs Tinubu’s tax reforms, calling them the most ambitious and courageous overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal system in decades.

Also read: Tinubu’s tax reform bills to boost revenue, Jobs, and economic growth

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives made this assertion on Tuesday at the National Assembly while delivering the maiden Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture organised by the House Press Corps.

Dogara’s lecture, titled “Navigating Tax Reform in Nigeria: Insights on President Tinubu’s Policies,” offered a sweeping analysis of the reforms introduced through the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and related laws.

He described the reforms as revolutionary, noting that President Tinubu inherited an economy weighed down by structural failures.

“By the time President Tinubu took office, N22.7 trillion had been printed and injected into the economy, destroying the value of the naira,” Dogara stated.

According to him, the administration’s move to consolidate 16 tax laws into four streamlined acts represents a bold attempt to simplify taxation, encourage investment, and reduce inequality. He added that these reforms were not only necessary but inevitable.

The new laws—set to take effect from January 2026—include exemptions for small businesses, rent reliefs, and tax waivers for low-income earners, with Dogara noting their potential to “protect the poor and empower the productive.”

He applauded Tinubu’s courage, saying, “True tax reform is not about raising rates, but raising trust.”

Dogara also clarified public concerns about a supposed new fuel surcharge, explaining that it is an existing provision under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency Act of 2007.

While praising the policy direction, he acknowledged potential challenges around compliance, interpretation, and digital transition.

He urged the government to channel tax revenues transparently into infrastructure, healthcare, and education to build public trust.

“This is a legacy that would impact generations after us,” Dogara said, adding that Tinubu could go down in history as Nigeria’s most consequential economic reformer.

House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Akin Rotimi, echoed similar sentiments, calling the reforms “one of the most significant steps in building our Fourth Republic.”

Other speakers, including civil society actors, tax officials, and journalists, agreed on the need for clear communication, accountability, and continued collaboration to ensure reform success.

Also read: Femi Otedola hails Tinubu’s vision during historic Dangote refinery visit

The event, chaired by Gboyega Onadiran and organised by Philip Nyiam, aimed to bridge the gap between policy and public understanding, placing journalists at the centre of democratic engagement.