Speakers at the 2025 Annual Lecture of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) have dismissed widespread misconceptions that Nigeria’s new tax law was created to serve government interests alone, asserting instead that the reform delivers substantial benefits to citizens, businesses and the broader economy.
During the panel session, accountant and tax consultant, Victor Fegor Origho, explained that the new tax framework was crafted to establish a fair, balanced and transparent system that corrects long-standing distortions.
He noted that, for years, some Nigerians were overtaxed while others remained underassessed, creating inequities the new law aims to resolve.
Origho maintained that public concerns about arbitrary debits and punitive measures are largely unfounded.
“This reform is not designed to punish Nigerians. It is to correct the gaps and ensure everyone pays what is due — no more, no less,” he said.
Legal practitioner, Barr. Ikpesu Gideon Jade, described the legislation as a modern, citizen-friendly dispute-resolution mechanism that functions like an ombudsman for tax-related issues.
He emphasized that although penalties exist, organizations can easily avoid sanctions by keeping proper records, complying promptly and managing their operations professionally. “If you do your part, the law protects you,” he stated.
Another panelist, Martins Onyem Aghaobod, Esq., underscored the importance of public enlightenment ahead of the law’s full implementation in January 2026.
He urged Nigerians to study the 203-section document to better understand its objectives, particularly the elimination of multiple taxation and the strengthening of compliance.
Collectively, the experts stressed that the law empowers citizens to demand accountability by making tax processes more transparent and enabling the public to track how government allocates revenue to infrastructure and essential services.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Associate Professor of Accounting at Dennis Osadebay University, Dr. Ochuko Emudainohwo, described the new tax law as a strategic economic blueprint designed to reposition Nigeria for inclusive and sustainable development.
He linked the reform to dwindling oil revenue, rising population pressures and the economic aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the federal government to rethink its fiscal model.
Dr. Emudainohwo noted that consolidating income and company taxes into a single tax net simplifies administration and eliminates bottlenecks.
He highlighted provisions that exempt businesses with annual turnover below N50 million from capital-based and company income taxes, a measure he said would ease the burden on small businesses, stimulate enterprise and boost innovation.
According to him, the law’s strengthened digital platforms will also enhance transparency, close revenue leakages and rebuild public trust.
While Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Chairman of the Occasion, Mr. Edward Obiefuna Martyns; and DOPF Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ochonogor Enebeli, all reiterated the need for accountability in tax administration, the event’s central focus remained the expert insights that unpacked the law’s implications for businesses and the wider society.
Governor Oborevwori, represented by Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, emphasized that tax reforms must translate into tangible development outcomes.
Martyns urged the media to intensify scrutiny of government revenue utilisation, while Enebeli stressed that effective taxation must be matched with improved public service delivery, including better roads, safer communities and transparent governance.
The 2025 DOPF Annual Lecture, themed “Nigeria’s New Tax Law: Implications and Opportunities for Businesses and Society,” attracted diverse participants and provided a comprehensive analysis of how the new legislation will shape economic behaviour, governance and public expectations as Nigeria transitions into a new tax era.
