President Bola Tinubu has said that a transparent and fair tax system is essential for financing government operations.
Tinubu spoke on Tuesday at the 27th annual tax conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in Abuja.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said his administration is committed to bold and comprehensive reforms to reposition Nigeria’s fiscal architecture for resilience, inclusion, and growth — with taxation as the central pillar.
“I believe that a robust, transparent and fair tax system is essential not only for financing government operations but also for creating an environment of accountability, stability and long-term development.
“Accordingly, the government has taken deliberate steps to restructure and modernise our tax administration and legal framework.
“In this regard, the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms marked a significant turning point,” the president said.
According to Tinubu, the committee was mandated to simplify taxes, broaden the base, reduce leakages, and ensure alignment between fiscal policy and national development objectives.
“Members of the committee worked tirelessly to achieve their mandates, which include addressing issues of multiplicity of taxes and improving coordination between the federal, state and local government tax authorities.
“The Federal Government also pushed forward with the Economy Stabilisation Bill, which has now also been passed,” he said.
The president said the effectiveness of any reform lies in its implementation, noting that the conference offers a platform for stakeholders to examine how policies and legislation can be turned into tangible and measurable results.
“This is also an occasion to discuss solutions to long-standing issues such as taxation, informal sector integration, fiscal federalism and equity in taxation.
“As tax professionals and policy makers, you are the custodians of Nigeria’s tax future.
“I, therefore, urge you to leverage this platform to engage meaningfully, challenge assumptions and craft pathways that will strengthen our tax institutions, boost revenue and ultimately improve the lives of Nigerians,” he said.
Also speaking, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the theme of the conference reflected CITN’s recognition of the critical role government revenue plays in driving national growth and development.
Shettima, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the president on Economic Affairs in the office of the Vice President, Tope Fasua, said the focus on taxation highlights the shared responsibility between taxpayers and the government as the tax administrator.
“Taxation is crucial to the achievement of economic development.
“We hope to listen to ideas at this conference around how to ensure that a stakeholder’s view is taken right from the policy enactment stage up to the point of implementation.
“This is bearing in mind that taxation is a continuous affair, and legitimacy is conferred by the delivery of service to taxpayers.
“The need for a stakeholder point of view is why the Presidential Committee of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms is made up of professionals from diverse walks of life,” Shettima said.
In his remarks, the 16th president of the CITN council, Samuel Agbeluyi, described taxation as not just a revenue tool but a powerful instrument for promoting equity, redistributing wealth, incentivising growth, and funding public services.
“However, for taxation to truly serve these developmental goals, policy formulation, legal framework and implementation mechanisms must be harmoniously aligned.
“When policy is progressive, the law is enabling and implementation is both efficient and equitable.
“The result is a tax system that engenders trust, encourages voluntary compliance and delivers shared prosperity,” Agbeluyi said.
He said Nigeria is grappling with major challenges across economic, security, and social dimensions, stressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
The CITN president commended the Tinubu administration for prioritising fiscal reforms, noting that the committee’s efforts demonstrate a strong commitment to driving sustainable socio-economic development through a robust and efficient tax system.
FG attracts N5.8bn private investment for rural electrification
In the same vein, the Federal Government says the Rural Electrification Fund has attracted N5.8 billion in private sector investment to boost clean energy access in underserved communities.
Speaking at the ‘REF Call 3 Grant award signing ceremony and Access to Finance Workshop’ on Tuesday in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the development marks a new phase in Nigeria’s off-grid energy drive.
Represented by Ayoade Adegboyega, the agency’s Executive Director of Corporate Services, Aliyu said 58 developers have signed agreements to deploy solar mini-grids and solar home systems across multiple states.
“Today, we mark not just the beginning of a new chapter in the journey of the Rural Electrification Agency, but also a renewed commitment to transforming lives through sustainable and inclusive energy access,” he said.
Aliyu noted that REF interventions have enabled the deployment of 124 mini-grids, over 25,580 solar home systems, and empowered 18,013 micro, small, and medium enterprises across 183 communities in all 36 states and the FCT.
According to him, the efforts have delivered 16.6 megawatts (MW) of installed renewable energy capacity, created more than 26,000 jobs, avoided 91,720 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, and attracted N5.8 billion in private capital.
Aliyu added that REF Call 3 would focus on deeper penetration into underserved areas, especially to catalyse energy use among MSMEs, women-led enterprises, and the agricultural sector.
“This next phase is about scaling impact. It’s not just about access—it’s about classrooms illuminated, health centres revived, dual economies set into motion,” he said.
Aliyu warned developers against delays in executing projects, citing past experiences with the interconnected mini-grid acceleration scheme (IMAS).
“To our developers, I urge you to treat this phase with a renewed sense of urgency. Prolonged deployment timelines will no longer be tolerated.
“Project milestones and potential red flags must be reported early. Timely, transparent communication with the agency is not optional,” he said.
In her remarks, REF Director, Doris Uboh, said the fund was established by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 and revitalised under the 2023 Electricity Act.
“Our mission is simple—electrify the underserved and unserved, energise development, and ensure no Nigerian is left in the dark,” she said.
Uboh said REF blends public funding with private innovation to deliver sustainable, decentralised energy, adding that developers are required to maintain plants for the long term.
“Some of our projects have lasted over five to ten years. We tie developers to each mini-grid—not just to build and walk away, but to ensure proper generation, distribution, and tariff collection,” she added.
Uboh also stressed adherence to REF’s operational guidelines, saying sustainability and impact remain central to the programme’s long-term success.