NOA Leads Nationwide Drive to Build Public Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Reforms
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has taken the lead in ensuring Nigerians understand and trust the country’s ongoing tax reforms, describing effective communication as essential for successful policy implementation.
At the inauguration of the Joint Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms for Public Awareness and Sensitisation, the Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasised that while the reforms are technically robust, their success ultimately depends on public understanding. He noted that poorly communicated policies often fail, highlighting the importance of clarity, transparency, and social responsiveness in policy execution.
The reforms, set to take effect from January 1, 2026, are designed to promote fairness, inclusion, sustainability, and improved service delivery, he explained.
To bridge the gap between policy and the public, a joint technical committee was established between the NOA and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms. Its mandate is to coordinate a nationwide, inclusive, and evidence-based awareness campaign that addresses misconceptions, counters misinformation, and reduces public anxiety.
The Director-General was represented at the event by Alhaji Nuhu Kobi, Director of Planning, Research, and Strategy, who formally inaugurated the committee. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. David Akoji, Director of Special Duties and Zonal Coordination, highlighted NOA’s extensive presence in all 774 local government areas as a strategic advantage for engaging communities, professional bodies, civil society, the informal sector, and the media through a two-way communication approach.
The Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, who is a member of the joint committee, explained that the nationwide engagement marks the implementation phase of Nigeria’s long-overdue tax reforms.
He stressed the need to tackle widespread misinformation, noting that the reforms are pro-poor and intended to recalibrate national revenue without increasing the tax burden on struggling citizens, small businesses, and SMEs.
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