…backs Tinubu’s tax reforms, demands end to non-state revenue collection
Abuja — The Joint Revenue Board (JRB) has drawn a firm line against illegal taxation on Nigeria’s highways, announcing the total abolition of all road stickers and calling for the immediate dismantling of unauthorized roadblocks used for collecting taxes and levies.
The sweeping decision was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 158th meeting of the Board, held between December 9 and 10 at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, where members also threw their weight behind the Federal Government’s ongoing fiscal and tax reforms.
In a strongly worded resolution, the JRB condemned the activities of non-state actors operating within the nation’s revenue value chain, describing illegal roadblocks and roadside collections as a threat to economic stability, ease of doing business and the integrity of tax administration.
The Board commended the Federal Government for its far-reaching fiscal policy and tax reforms, noting that the measures have the potential to boost revenue mobilisation, enhance economic competitiveness, and deepen fiscal sustainability across the federation.
It also lauded the transformation of the Joint Tax Board into the Joint Revenue Board, describing the move as a bold step toward a more coordinated, efficient and coherent national revenue administration framework. According to the communiqué, the new JRB structure will strengthen collaboration among revenue authorities, improve information sharing and significantly enhance tax compliance nationwide.
Emphasising the role of technology, the Board declared that the future of tax administration rests on accurate, comprehensive and interoperable data, resolving to strengthen data-sharing frameworks and deploy advanced analytics tools to harmonise revenue practices across federal and sub-national levels.
In one of its most decisive resolutions, the JRB called on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to take immediate action to eliminate illegal roadblocks mounted along major transport corridors for the purpose of collecting taxes, levies and charges.
The Board re-emphasised the outright ban on the design, production, issuance and enforcement of all forms of road stickers and related instruments, whether by state or non-state actors. Nigerians were urged to resist such illegal demands and promptly report offenders to security agencies for appropriate sanctions.
To ensure uniformity and transparency, the JRB also urged all states to fast-track the passage of the Harmonised Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Bill into law, stressing that a standardised framework is critical to the success of the national tax reform agenda.
With this declaration, the JRB signalled a major push to clean up Nigeria’s revenue system, ease the burden on motorists and businesses, and restore confidence in lawful, transparent tax administration nationwide.
