A High Court, sitting in Abuja, the country’s capital city, has dismissed a suit seeking to stop the commencement of the implementation of the new tax laws by January 1, 2026.
The suit, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of African Initiative for Abuse Public Trustees against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and others, challenges alleged discrepancies in the tax laws and their proposed January 1, 2026, implementation date.
Justice Bello Kawu, while delivering judgment on the suit, ruled that the plaintiffs failed to show legal grounds or irreparable harm to stop the implementation of the new tax laws.
Based on the ruling, the federal government, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the National Assembly can proceed with the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 from January 1, 2026.
Naija News recalls that President Bola Tinubu had earlier declared that the new tax laws would take effect from January 1, 2026, as planned, despite objections from some quarters.
The President made the declaration in a statement on Tuesday in which he explained that the new laws are not designed to raise taxes but to drive harmonization.
President Tinubu noted that his administration is aware of agitations in some quarters over the new tax laws, but added that no substantial issue has been raised to warrant a suspension of the implementation process.
He promised that the government would ensure due process in the implementation of the laws and work with all stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to resolve all identified issues against the new tax laws.
