The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) on Tuesday convened a high-level Stakeholders’ Forum designed to broaden public understanding of Nigeria’s Tax Laws 2025, bringing renewed focus to the country’s changing revenue landscape.
The event, themed “Understanding Nigeria’s Tax Acts 2025,” gathered tax administrators, business operators, government officials, and regulatory institutions for a comprehensive review of the new fiscal framework.
In his address, KGIRS Chairman, Salihu Enehe, said the forum was part of the agency’s deliberate efforts to prepare stakeholders for the reforms set to shape Nigeria’s tax environment from January 2026.
He noted that the passage of the four tax bills into laws in June 2025 followed nationwide debates that dominated economic conversations the previous year.
According to him, the updated tax laws provide a clearer path toward building a stronger, more predictable national revenue system.
Enehe emphasized that the new Acts scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2026 were thoroughly assessed by KGIRS to determine implementation strategies suited to the state’s economic realities.
He recalled that while earlier reforms unsettled businesses in 2023, subsequent recovery witnessed in 2024 and further improvements seen in 2025 show that the country is gradually stabilizing, with brighter prospects ahead.
The essence of tax reform, he stressed, is to bring certainty to business planning and economic projection.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Internal Revenue Service, Nasiru Rahaman, described the forum as an expression of the government’s commitment to building a transparent and citizen-focused revenue ecosystem.
He said the reforms introduced within the last 18 months aim to expand tax base, strengthen legal institutions, and enhance compliance, ultimately reinforcing the nation’s ability to fund development sustainably.
Participants also received technical guidance from Tax Attorney, Bamidele Suru, who broke down the provisions of the new Tax Laws.
He explained that the reforms include exemptions for individuals earning below ₦800,000 annually and businesses with earnings up to ₦100 million, a structure he said is designed to promote fairness and prevent undue burden on low-income earners and small business enterprises.
He noted that early awareness remains key to smooth compliance when the laws take effect in 2026.
The forum also featured remarks from Dr. Esther Yetunde Owotunse, Pioneer Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Kogi State Chapter who commended KGIRS for prioritizing tax education and helping stakeholders dispel long-held misconceptions.
According to her, the engagement reflects the agency’s growing effort to make tax administration more friendly, inclusive, and aligned with the expectations of the public.
