Against a backdrop of public criticism regarding ongoing tax reform policies, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday charged the Nigeria Revenue Service to restore public confidence and ensure fairness in the implementation of the national tax system.
Tinubu gave the charge while commissioning the 16-storey head office complex of the revenue service in Abuja.
”No government can demand trust from its citizens when taxation is opaque, inefficient or unjust,” President Tinubu said.
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National prosperity through fiscal discipline
The president commended Nigerians for enduring the economic reforms introduced by his administration, stating that no serious nation can achieve lasting prosperity on a weak and fragmented revenue system.
He stated that tax reform policies must be implemented to earn the confidence of Nigerians at home and abroad. He charged the revenue service to ensure that the policy embodies a new ethos.
”It must not only collect revenue, it must build trust, it must ensure fairness and it must demonstrate that government can be accountable, efficient and responsive,” Tinubu said. “It must become a model institution that earns confidence at home and respect abroad.”
Transition from uncertainty to renewed hope
The president thanked the Nigerian people for their resilience and perseverance. He recalled his inauguration day pledge to move Nigerians from the “darkness of uncertainty into the clear light of Renewed Hope”.
”I committed that we would confront structural weaknesses, restore fairness and build an economy anchored on discipline, equity and opportunity,” he said. “Today I stand before you to reaffirm that these words were not rhetoric.”
He described his inauguration pledge as a “contract with the Nigerian people”, adding that the gathering was not merely to commission a building but to mark a milestone in a larger national journey.
Creating a transparent investment environment
Tinubu explained that the administration took the bold decision to embark on far-reaching tax and fiscal reforms to simplify the system, eliminate distortions and create a transparent, investment-friendly environment.
”Our direction is clear,” he said. “A revenue system that rewards enterprise, supports growth and ensures that every contribution to the national cause is matched by value for the people.”
Tinubu described early results as “fantastic”, commending the revenue service for improved fiscal stability, stronger foreign reserves and increased investor confidence.
Professionalism beyond concrete and steel
According to the president, these gains are the product of deliberate policy and a commitment to long-term prosperity. He noted that the new headquarters is a symbol of professionalism, transparency and efficiency.
”It reflects our resolve that institutions must rise to meet the demand of reforms and the expectations of the Nigerian people,” he said.
President Tinubu called for a better future, urging those who follow to build on a history greater than the vision of their forebears.
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Delivering progress through institutional strength
He noted that the completion of the building is a statement that Nigeria is no longer content with promises. “We are delivering progress,” he said. “History will not judge us by what we say, but by what we do.”
Tinubu stated that the work of national renewal demands consistency, courage and collective resolve. He added that the nation’s future is determined by the choice of reform, discipline and prosperity.
The president assured that his administration will remain focused until the promise to Nigerians is matched by the performance of its institutions and the prosperity of its people.