Many say one area where the voices of Nigerians have caused is in tax matters. Some say it was raising of voices that led to the tax reforms that have given birth to tax harmonization in the new tax laws that would begin effect from January 1, 2026.
Now, experts say reactions to the new laws through voices have also led to suspension of some of the clauses such as the petroleum tax increase to 15% and the company tax of 30% which many say could scare away investors.
Now, a strong group in the tax advocacy space known as the Tax Justice & Governance has worked with others to launch a report called ‘Power of Voices Partnerships – Fair for All project’. The partners the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre & Oxfam in Nigeria. They produced the report which was unveiled in Port Harcourt on Monday, December 15, 2025, by yours sincerely. The project was implemented and led by ‘Community Conciliation and Development Initiative’ (CCADI) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The unveiling took place at the well lauded venue, Patrick Naagbaton Hall, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) Office at Location Road in the Tombia Extension area of Oroazi in GRA, Port Harcourt.
The unveiling was regarded as very significant because the project was aimed to amplify and empower marginalized groups to actively participate in decision-making processes and demand fair and progressive taxation and trade, including open civic space for fairer redistribution of wealth to close the socioeconomic inequality gap, particularly in the informal sector.
Read also: Nigeria’s tax reforms set lowest VAT rate among African peers
The event was said to be part of a broader strategy to share and deepen the “Voices of Impact” with diverse and wider audiences within and outside the sustainable development space.
Presenting the Report, Amaechi Kelechi Justin, Coordinator, Rivers State Tax Justice and Governance Platform, mentioned key achievements of the campaign for fairer tax system. He said they include: “Induction into the Rivers State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Council; amplification and mainstreaming of taxation issues during the 2023 Rivers State governorship debate; a presentation at the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Port Harcourt and District Society Conference; repair of a water supply system at a local market through the Tax-for-Service initiative; regional advocacy successes toward the expansion of the Calabar Seaport; and contributions to the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, including provisions for the abolition of road and haulage taxes.”
