Taiwo Oyedele Explains Delay in Issuance of Tax Reform Guidelines

Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, has explained
the reason behind the delay in issuing implementation guidelines for Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws.
Oyedele spoke on Wednesday in Lagos during the 2026 Economic Outlook event organised by the
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Addressing accountants, policymakers and business leaders, Oyedele said the delay is primarily due to
uncertainty over the final, officially authenticated version of the tax laws, a situation that has hindered
regulators from publishing detailed guidelines.
He said that although more than 40 regulations, guidelines and public notices have been finalised, they
cannot be issued because it is not yet clear which version of the laws is legally definitive under the Acts
Authentication Act.

According to Oyedele, the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS) and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) were
advised to wait before releasing any guidelines.
He explained that while a gazetted version of the laws was initially published and shared with the public,
some lawmakers contested that it did not reflect what was passed by the National Assembly, prompting
them to conduct their own review and produce alternative gazetted versions.

Oyedele noted that, under the Acts Authentication Act, only the officially published copies from the
Government Printer constitute legal evidence of the law passed, and until such copies are finally
authenticated and made available, regulators are unable to confidently issue guidance on
implementation.
“We can’t issue guidelines when we are not 100 per cent certain that this is the final official position,”
he said.
He recounted that his team was instructed to obtain printed copies from the Government Printer in
compliance with legal requirements, but was informed that the National Assembly had taken all printed
copies pending its review, thereby creating further uncertainty.

Oyedele characterised this as an understandable step by the legislature but acknowledged that it
complicates the timing of guideline issuance.
Oyedele also sought to reassure stakeholders that although discrepancies have arisen between versions,
the differences are limited and do not affect fundamental elements such as tax rates, tax authorities or
filing deadlines, emphasising that the core structure of the tax reforms remains intact.

The new tax laws, including the National Revenue Service Act, Nigeria Tax Administration Act, Nigeria
Tax Act and Joint Revenue Board Act, took effect on January 1, 2026 and are pivotal to the federal
government’s broader fiscal reform agenda.
While their implementation continues to attract intense public debate, Oyedele’s comments shed light
on procedural and legal safeguards influencing the pace at which detailed implementation instructions
are released.

Earlier reports suggesting the government had suspended guideline issuance were later labelled
misleading by some officials; however, Oyedele’s comments focused on the legal basis for holding back
the rollout pending authentication, not on a permanent halt.

By Oyinkansola Shittu.

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