By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government yesterday formally banned the collection of taxes in cash and prohibited the mounting of roadblocks for revenue enforcement across the country, signalling a decisive shift in Nigeria’s tax administration under newly enacted reforms.

The announcement was made in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Olusegun Adesokan, during the signing of the Presumptive Tax Regulations and Guidelines at the Federal Ministry of Finance.

He said the new framework is aimed at ending informal, coercive and fragmented tax practices, particularly at the subnational level.

“It bans all forms of cash collection by tax authorities.

It also bans the mounting of roadblocks for the collection of taxes,” Adesokan said.

He explained that the regulations would entrench transparency and equity, especially within the commerce and informal sectors, and align tax administration across federal, state and local governments.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described the development as a transition from legislative approval to operational enforcement of tax reforms enacted in 2025 and early 2026.

“With the signing of these regulations, we are transitioning from regulation to structured implementation of the tax reforms,” Edun said, stressing that the reforms are anchored on transparency, fairness and economic inclusion.

Under the new presumptive tax regime, nano and small businesses with an annual turnover of N12m and below are exempted, while a one per cent tax on turnover will apply to other categories of informal businesses.

Edun maintained that the reforms are not designed to increase tax rates but to broaden the tax base in a structured and equitable manner.

“We’ll expand the tax base, not raising taxes, but expanding so that each bears his rightful contribution to the common cause,” he said.

Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee, Joseph Tegbe, said the signing marked a shift from policy intention to practical execution, noting that the informal sector employs over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce but has historically contributed little to structured public revenue due to systemic weaknesses.

The reforms stem from sweeping tax legislation signed in June 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, including the Nigeria Tax Act, which overhauled decades-old tax statutes and modernised the country’s tax system.

In a related development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has commenced full enforcement of electronic payment systems across airports nationwide to block revenue leakages and strengthen accountability.

Speaking at the National Assembly Complex after appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, FAAN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olubunmi Kuku, said the initiative is designed to ensure that all revenues generated at airports — particularly at toll gates and other collection points — are transparently processed and fully remitted.

“This initiative is about accountability and sustainability. We are ensuring that every kobo due to the Federal Government is collected without leakages, while also improving operational efficiency,” she said.

According to Kuku, enforcement of the cashless system began on Sunday following months of sensitisation and stakeholder engagement.

She acknowledged initial traffic congestion at some airport toll gates but described it as part of an adjustment phase. She clarified that while FAAN-issued cashless cards are available, they are not the only payment option.

Four payment channels are currently in place: annual e-tags for frequent users, VIP stickers for approved users, personal bank ATM cards including contactless or NFC-enabled cards, and FAAN-issued cashless cards obtainable within airport premises and through partner banks.

The agency’s renewed push aligns with the Federal Government’s broader cashless policy and follows longstanding concerns over revenue leakages at manual toll points.

With the twin measures, outlawing cash tax collection and automating airport revenue systems, the government is tightening oversight of public revenues while advancing a coordinated national framework aimed at transparency, accountability and sustainable economic growth.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Managing Director/CEO of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Prince Ebitimi Amgbare, has expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, just as he commended the Founder-in-Chief of the pro-administration advocacy group, Relax! Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN), Mr.

Seyi Tinubu.

During a visit by the Bayelsa State Coordinator of RTIFN, Hon.

Erepamowei Ogbomo, at the headquarters of NDBDA in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday, Prince Amgbare informed that: “Nigerians are now realizing that President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda means well for them.

The Managing Director reaffirmed his backing for RTIFN’s efforts, emphasizing that collaboration between government agencies and civic organizations is key to driving national development and promoting President Tinubu’s agenda.

He described the visit as very strategic and timely, aimed at strengthening partnerships to drive human capital development, sustainable resource management, and socio-economic growth in Bayelsa State and beyond.

Prince Amgbare maintained that President Tinubu’s efforts are gaining traction, and people have started seeing the benefits of the Renewed Hope Agenda, reiterating that as an early supporter of President Tinubu from the days of the Action Congress (AC) to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), he is pleased that Nigerians are now aligning with what him and other Tinubu’s supporters have been preaching about Tinubu’s leadership potential.

“It gladdens my heart that President Tinubu’s vision is now gaining momentum. The Renewed Hope Agenda gaining traction, even as the grassroots support base for the president, is growing daily, and we are seeing the impact of our earlier advocacy as foundational members of the Tinubu’s family. The momentum has continued to build up for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda ahead of 2027.

Speaking during the engagement, Hon. Erepamowei Ogbomo noted that RTIFN remains committed to supporting policies and programmes that align with the transformation agenda of the federal government.

He emphasized that collaboration with key federal institutions such as the Niger Delta Basin Authority would help drive impactful initiatives capable of improving livelihoods and fostering inclusive development.

According to him, the visit marked the beginning of what he described as a productive and mutually beneficial relationship designed to advance national progress and support the Renewed Hope vision.

RTIFN, a youth-driven movement, seeks to bridge the communication gap between government and citizens by promoting accurate information on the administration’s policies, countering misinformation, and encouraging Nigerians to remain patient, amid ongoing economic reforms.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), under the chairmanship of AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has expressed strong support for reforms requiring oil and gas revenue entitlements to be remitted directly into the Federation Account, describing the move as critical to strengthening fiscal transparency, predictability, and constitutional alignment across all tiers of government.

The NGF said in a statement by Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi

Director, Media and Strategic Communications on Monday that the Executive Order 9, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 13 February 2026, which directs the realignment of oil and gas revenue flows with constitutional provisions and clarifies regulatory responsibilities within the petroleum sector.

“The Forum’s interest lies in the extent to which reforms enhance the transparency, predictability, and constitutional alignment of Federation Account inflows across all tiers of government.

“In this regard, the Forum recognises that the Executive Order requires government entitlements under production-sharing and related contracts, including royalty oil, tax oil, profit oil, and profit gas, to flow directly into the Federation Account, while strengthening the delineation of regulatory mandates across the sector.

“As a non-partisan body representing the 36 State Governors of the Federation, the NGF underscores that the integrity and predictability of Federation Account inflows are foundational to Nigeria’s fiscal federalism. Oil and gas revenues remain a central component of the distributable national income.

“The clarity, transparency, and predictability of those inflows directly affect capital planning, debt sustainability, infrastructure delivery, and public service provision at the federal, state, and local government levels.

Recent Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) communiqués have consistently demonstrated a gap between gross revenue collections and final distributable sums. For subnational governments, it is the latter that determines fiscal capacity.

“When remittance pathways are layered, complex, or difficult to reconcile, fiscal predictability weakens, and that directly affects capital planning cycles across the Federation at federal, state, and local government levels.

Nigeria’s population now exceeds 220 million and continues to grow rapidly. States sit at the frontline of delivering education, primary healthcare, infrastructure, security architecture, and economic opportunity to this expanding population. Predictable revenue flows strengthen the ability of states to meet these obligations responsibly.

Commenting on the development, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, stated.

“The Federation Account is the backbone of Nigeria’s intergovernmental fiscal system. Structural clarity in the remittance of nationally owned resources strengthens fiscal stability across all tiers of government. Predictability improves planning. Planning improves delivery. The Governors’ Forum supports reforms that enhance transparency, reinforce constitutional alignment, and strengthen the collective capacity of governments to meet the needs of our growing population.”

The Forum reiterates that reforms which strengthen fiscal coherence and reinforce the constitutional framework underpinning resource ownership ultimately benefit the entire Federation. Sustainable economic growth requires strong institutions, disciplined revenue management, and alignment between policy intent and operational execution.

“The Nigeria Governors’ Forum remains committed to collaborative engagement with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure that fiscal reforms translate into improved development outcomes for Nigerians”, the statement added.