Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has described the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as revolutionary, noting that they represent the most audacious overhaul of Nigeria’s fiscal and economic framework in decades.
Speaking at the maiden Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture in Abuja, Dogara said Tinubu inherited an economy in deep crisis, citing the printing and injection of ₦22.7 trillion through ways and means, the dual exchange rates that favored a select elite, and forward crude sales tied to foreign debt which contributed to the collapse of the naira. He stressed that the President’s decision to confront these systemic distortions head-on demonstrates rare political courage.
Dogara particularly commended the comprehensive tax reforms, which include the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2025, and Joint Revenue Board Act 2025. According to him, these new legislations consolidate outdated statutes into a modern framework aimed at simplifying tax laws, widening the tax base, improving compliance, and creating a fairer system that will boost revenue generation.
While praising the boldness of the reforms, the former Speaker cautioned that their success will depend on transparency, faithful implementation, and the government’s ability to earn public trust. He identified key challenges such as technological readiness, interpretation of the laws, availability of skilled manpower, and transitional compliance costs, stressing that overcoming them is vital to ensure that Tinubu’s reforms deliver the promised benefits for Nigerians.
