NUJ FCT Correspondents, Joint Revenue Board Forge Strategic Media Cooperation to Drive Tax Reform Awareness Nationwide By Raymond Enoch
In a strategic move aimed at deepening public understanding of Nigeria’s evolving tax system, the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has entered into a strengthened partnership with the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) to promote tax education, voluntary compliance and greater transparency through responsible journalism.
The commitment emerged during an interactive engagement in Abuja held as part of activities marking the 2026 World Public Relations Day. The session, hosted by the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Felix Ojo, brought together senior officials of the Joint Revenue Board and members of the Chapel to discuss the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reforms.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board, Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, the Board’s Head of Legal and Secretarial Services, Mr. Ibrahim Ja’afaru, unveiled key provisions of the newly introduced Presumptive Tax Regulations 2026, describing the reforms as a major step towards creating a simpler, fairer and more inclusive tax administration system.
Ja’afaru explained that the regulations are designed to eliminate multiple taxation, encourage businesses in the informal sector to formalise their operations and reduce the tax burden on nano and micro enterprises.
Under the new framework, businesses with an annual turnover of ₦12 million and below are exempt from presumptive tax, while those above the threshold are expected to pay one per cent of their annual turnover. Several categories of small-scale operators—including roadside food vendors, artisans, shoemakers, pure water sellers and other micro-business owners—also enjoy tax exemptions.
The Board stressed that all tax payments must now be made through approved electronic platforms, effectively eliminating cash transactions in tax administration.
Officials further clarified that while taxation applies only where there is income, profit or gain, businesses with no financial activity are still required to file annual “nil returns” to remain compliant with statutory obligations.
The engagement also highlighted the establishment of the Office of the Tax Ombud under the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Act 2025, providing taxpayers with a free, impartial and accessible platform for resolving disputes with tax authorities without resorting to litigation.
The JRB described sustained stakeholder engagement and public communication as critical to the success of the reforms, noting that collaboration with the media would help ensure accurate dissemination of information while creating channels for citizens’ feedback.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Felix Ojo, applauded the Board for proactively engaging journalists on issues of national importance. He reaffirmed the Chapel’s commitment to supporting nationwide public enlightenment campaigns on the objectives, benefits and practical implications of the tax reforms.
He urged Nigerians, particularly operators within the informal sector, to take advantage of the reliefs and exemptions provided under the new regulations while maintaining proper records and complying with relevant tax laws.
The Chapel also appealed to the Joint Revenue Board to support the ongoing NUJ FCT Council Secretariat building project, assist in furnishing the Correspondents’ Chapel office and facilitate capacity-building programmes that would further equip journalists to educate the public on tax-related issues.
The renewed collaboration is expected to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s tax reforms and reinforce the media’s role as a critical partner in advancing accountability, voluntary compliance and sustainable national development.
