Nigeria recorded a 27 per cent improve in tax revenue collected by 23 states in the primary half of 2026, as the federal government’s new tax regime takes impact and efforts intensify to curb a number of taxation.
The Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Olusegun Adesokan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, saying the revenue collected by the 23 states between January and June was larger than their earnings in the corresponding interval of 2025.
Mr Adesokan mentioned the rise was recorded alongside provisions meant to scale back private revenue tax for low- and middle-income earners, arguing that the reforms had been designed to enhance revenue assortment with out putting an extreme burden on atypical Nigerians.
“The vision is to tax prosperity, not poverty. Tax the fruit, not the seed. We should tax returns, not investments,” he mentioned.
According to figures introduced by the board, the 23 states generated about N2.2 trillion in the primary half of 2026, in contrast with N1.75 trillion in the identical interval of 2025.
Mr Adesokan attributed the expansion to efforts to enhance tax administration, widen the tax base and be certain that these with higher monetary capability contribute appropriately.
He mentioned the board’s knowledge confirmed that about 92 per cent of revenue earners in the states coated by the figures had been paying decrease private revenue tax or no private revenue tax beneath the brand new regime.
The figures cowl solely the 23 states that submitted returns to the board and don’t symbolize the tax efficiency of all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr Adesokan additionally disclosed that 21 states had adopted the mannequin harmonised taxes and levies regulation developed by the JRB in collaboration with the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
The laws is meant to handle a number of taxation on the subnational stage, the place companies and people generally face overlapping calls for from totally different authorities authorities.
The framework consolidates greater than 100 taxes, levies and costs into 9 classes, with the intention of creating the system simpler to grasp and adjust to.
“One of the things it addresses is the issue of multiple taxation at the subnational level, and it’s a major problem,” Mr Adesokan mentioned.
“Sometimes, the state government will collect the same thing. So what we have done is we have harmonised all the multiple taxes into just nine.”
He harassed that the reforms weren’t meant to introduce further taxes however to simplify current levies, enhance accountability and make revenue administration extra constant throughout states.
The 21 states which have adopted the framework are Kebbi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Ekiti, Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Niger, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Ondo.
The remaining 15 states are but to undertake the mannequin laws.
Mr Adesokan mentioned the method required legislative approval and consultations with stakeholders, quite than directives from state governors alone.
He expressed confidence that extra states would undertake the framework as implementation progresses.
New tax regime provides reduction to earners
The Nigeria Tax Act 2025, which took impact on 1 January 2026, launched a revised private revenue tax construction, together with an exemption on the primary N800,000 of annual taxable revenue. Higher revenue bands appeal to progressively larger charges, as much as 25 per cent on taxable revenue above N50 million.
Mr Adesokan mentioned the adjustments had been meant to go away extra money in the fingers of eligible low- and middle-income earners whereas guaranteeing that larger earners contribute in accordance with their capability.
He famous that the reforms could be judged not merely by the variety of taxes eliminated or consolidated, however by whether or not companies might increase, jobs had been created and households skilled improved financial circumstances.
“The success of tax reform will continue to be measured not by taxes being removed, but by businesses being able to grow, jobs being created and prosperity being shared,” he mentioned.
The revised system additionally supplies for eligible deductions, together with pension contributions and sure housing-related bills, in calculating taxable revenue.
The board has urged employers and payroll directors to use the brand new provisions appropriately when calculating employees’ tax deductions.
JRB targets unlawful roadside collections
The board can also be working with the police and state revenue authorities to curb unlawful levies and unauthorised collections alongside highways and transport routes.
Mr Adesokan mentioned such practices improve the price of transporting items, with the extra bills typically handed on to shoppers via larger costs for meals and different important commodities.
“You can’t just be stopping and harassing people,” he mentioned, calling for higher use of expertise and stronger enforcement in opposition to unlawful collectors.
He acknowledged that ending the observe would take time as a result of roadside collections had turn into entrenched in some areas.
The JRB has additionally introduced measures in opposition to the sale of revenue stickers and symbols, roadblocks for revenue assortment and unauthorised money funds.
Mr Adesokan urged taxpayers to confirm revenue calls for with the suitable authorities and keep away from paying cash into non-public accounts or accounts belonging to consultants with out correct affirmation.
He mentioned informal-sector merchants who qualify for revenue tax exemptions shouldn’t be subjected to revenue tax calls for, though different lawful costs should apply.
Single Tax ID to enhance verification
Mr Adesokan mentioned the board was working with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) and state inside revenue providers to hyperlink current taxpayer identification data to a nationwide Tax Identification Number system.
The unified system is meant to assist revenue authorities confirm taxpayers’ data throughout state boundaries, scale back duplicate documentation and stop repeated revenue tax calls for arising from poor coordination.
He mentioned taxpayers would be capable to retrieve their Tax IDs via designated on-line platforms utilizing their private particulars.
The board mentioned it’s also planning joint tax audits involving the NRS and state revenue authorities to scale back repeated inspections and disruptions to companies.
Mr Adesokan urged Nigerians with complaints about tax administration to hunt redress via the suitable channels, together with the Office of the Tax Ombud, which he mentioned supplies a free avenue for resolving taxpayer complaints.
The JRB, previously often known as the Joint Tax Board, acquired an expanded mandate beneath the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025. Its tasks embody coordinating tax administration, harmonising taxes and levies, resolving disputes between tax authorities and enhancing the sharing of tax-related knowledge.
Mr Adesokan mentioned the last word check of the reforms could be whether or not they enhance compliance, scale back the burden on companies and assist financial progress.
He added that the federal government’s goal was to construct a tax system that’s truthful, equitable, accountable and clear, with out imposing calls for past what taxpayers can fairly bear.
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