The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), in partnership with the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) and federal revenue officials, has intensified efforts to promote Nigeria’s 2026 tax reforms by taking taxpayer education directly to grassroots traders across Ogun State.
The initiative, held under the theme “Tax Awareness for National Growth: Reform and Shared Prosperity,” seeks to improve public understanding of the country’s new fiscal framework, reduce misconceptions about taxation, and strengthen compliance among businesses operating in the informal sector.
The awareness campaign featured an advocacy walk through Magboro, with engagement sessions at Magboro Market, WiseBuyers Supermarket, and the palace of the Olu of Magboro, Oba Ademuyiwa Alalaade. Officials also interacted with traders, market leaders, and community stakeholders to explain how the new tax regime is designed to support economic inclusion while expanding the nation’s revenue base.
Speaking during the exercise, the Director of Tax Operations at OGIRS, Oladele Zaka, acknowledged the longstanding distrust many small business owners have toward tax authorities. He noted that fear and misinformation have historically discouraged voluntary tax compliance, with some traders shutting their businesses whenever tax officials visit.
Zaka said the campaign is aimed at replacing anxiety with education by helping taxpayers understand both their obligations and the protections available under the reformed tax system.
A key highlight of the sensitisation exercise was the clarification that individuals earning below ₦800,000 annually are exempt from paying personal income tax under the new tax law. According to Funmilola Ogundipe, Tax Manager for the National Revenue Service in Ogun State, the reforms are structured around a progressive tax model, ensuring that lower-income earners receive relief while higher-income individuals contribute proportionately more.
She also encouraged traders and small business owners to maintain basic financial records, describing proper bookkeeping as essential for accurate tax assessment and improved business management. Ogundipe further highlighted the convenience of the TaxPro-Max electronic tax platform, which allows taxpayers to register, file returns, and make payments online through a self-assessment process, reducing physical interactions with tax offices.
Chairman of the CITN Mowe-Arepo District Society, Rotimi Adebekun, said the campaign marks one year since President Bola Tinubu signed Nigeria’s landmark tax reform legislation into law. Beyond Magboro, similar outreach programmes, including tax clinics and SME sensitisation sessions, were conducted in Abeokuta, Ota, and Sango as part of a broader nationwide awareness drive.
The initiative underscores the government’s strategy of combining policy reforms with taxpayer education to improve voluntary compliance, expand the formal tax net, and generate sustainable revenue for infrastructure and public services. For businesses, increased awareness of tax obligations and available exemptions is expected to foster greater confidence in the country’s evolving fiscal system while supporting Nigeria’s long-term economic development agenda.
