The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has identified the primary beneficiaries of the new tax law introduced by President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview on Sunday, NRS Executive Chairman Zacchaeus Adedeji said the reforms are designed to benefit the poor.
Adedeji emphasised that the government is not increasing taxes and noted that, when considering all exemptions, more than 95% of low-income earners are completely exempt from the new levies.
He highlighted the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on all food items as particularly advantageous for the poor, explaining that about 90% of their disposable income is spent on food.
“We have removed VAT entirely from these items. The same applies to transportation, which also affects the poor.
“So, when you look at the overall impact, the net benefit clearly favours the poor. They are the main beneficiaries of this tax reform,” he said.
Politics Nigeria reports that Tinubu, on June 26, 2025, signed the four tax reform bills into law.
These laws include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, and the Joint Revenue Board Act.
Though many Nigerians have rejected it, and allegations of forgery surrounding the new tax laws passed by the National Assembly have sparked widespread resistance, President Tinubu has insisted that the new tax must take effect.