President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) to build a strong, transparent and efficient tax system, warning that no country can achieve lasting prosperity with a weak revenue structure.
Speaking on Tuesday at the commissioning of the NRS Headquarters in Abuja, the President said, “No serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented revenue system. No government can demand trust from its citizens when taxation is opaque, inefficient or unjust.”
He said the current administration took bold steps to reform the nation’s fiscal system in order to simplify processes, remove distortions and create a fair environment that supports investment.
That is why this administration took the bold decision to embark on far-reaching tax and fiscal reforms, reforms designed to simplify our system, eliminate distortions and create a fair, transparent and investment-friendly environment,” Tinubu said.
The President stated that the direction of his government remains focused on building a revenue system that supports growth and ensures that citizens see value for the taxes they pay.
Our direction is clear; a revenue system that rewards enterprise, supports growth and ensures that every contribution to the national purse is matched by feasible value for people. The early results are encouraging, fantastic,” he said.
Recalling his inauguration, Tinubu said his government had made a firm promise to Nigerians to address structural weaknesses and build a disciplined and fair economy.
“On my inauguration day, I made a solemn pledge that we would move Nigeria from the dimness of uncertainty into the clear light of renewed hope. I committed that we will confront structural weaknesses, restore fairness and build an economy anchored on discipline, equity and opportunity,” he said.
He added, “Today, I stand before you to reaffirm that these words were not rhetoric. They were a covenant with the Nigerian people.”
The President said the commissioning of the headquarters goes beyond opening a building, describing it as a milestone in strengthening the country’s fiscal foundation and restoring confidence in public institutions.
“We are not gathered here merely to function a building, we are here to mark a milestone in a larger national journey, the deliberate strengthening of our fiscal foundation and rebuilding of confidence in public institutions,” he said.
According to him, the country is already witnessing improvements in fiscal stability, foreign reserves, trade systems and investor confidence, noting that these outcomes are the result of deliberate policies and sustained efforts.
