Rivers Revenue Service, Experts Advise Christians, Others On New Tax Law

The Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) and professionals in financial institutions have advised Nigerians, particularly Christians, to adopt the new tax regime introduced by the federal government, effective January 1, 2026.

RIRS and the experts made the call at special public seminar with the theme: The Nigeria New Tax Law  organised by the Rivers State Mega Region Empowerment Group of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) held at the South-South Region 1 Headquarters, Rumuola, Port Harcourt on Saturday.

On June 26, 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed four specific Acts, which include: the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), 2025; Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), 2025; Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSA), 2025 and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBA), 2025.

The experts who were drawn from public and private organisations, stressed that payment of tax is the civic responsibility for every citizen, warning that evading payment is an offence.

According to experts, the church’s offerings and tithes, in particular, are not taxable, except for contracts awarded by churches, which are subject to payment.

Speaking on the topic “Payee and other taxes in Rivers State”, an official of the RIRS, Godgift Ebelogu, said the new tax law is not targeted at increasing citizens’ burden, but is people-friendly, especially for businessmen and women.

Ebelogu advised residents and people doing business in the state, to obtain their Tax Identification Number (TIN) for seamless operation and transaction.

He advised Rivers residents and Nigerians in general to be aware of the new tax regime that would take effect on January 1, 2026, stating that tax evaders would be penalised.

Additionally, he disclosed that in Rivers, residents and business owners can expect the following taxes: property tax, marine tax, Economic Development Levy (paid by companies), Solid Waste (Sanitation) tax, business premises tax, and poll betting tax.

The RIRS official regretted that the new tax regime would negatively affect revenue generation because people with an annual remuneration below N800,000 are exempt from payment.

Ebelogu admitted that tax payment is evaded, but advised Christians to live by example, by obeying the Biblical injunction in Mark 12:17, where Jesus Christ said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

He emphasised that Nigerians should accept the new tax law, which is for their good, adding that enforcement would not be applied if citizens could comply with government policies and programmes.

Giving an overview of the Nigeria Tax Law 2025, Solomon Imonikhe urged Nigerians to prepare for its implementation in 2026 and not claim ignorance of its existence.

He advised that from next year, people should make proper documentation of transactions made and highlight the purpose for their transactions.

According to him, President Tinubu signed the four new tax Acts into law, as part of a major reform initiative to “modernise and streamline Nigeria’s complex tax system, boost government revenue, improve the business environment, and ensure fair tax administration. The Acts are set to take effect from January 1, 2026.

“The primary objectives for signing these Acts were to address long-standing issues within the Nigerian fiscal framework and support the administration’s economic policies.”

Imonikhe further advised that members of the public should be conscious of their business transactions, stressing that there would no longer be a hiding place for tax evaders.

Meanwhile, Ike Ukwuoma, who spoke on Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Nigerian Tax Law, said, while urging taxable adults to perform this civic responsibility, charged the government to play its role by providing necessary amenities for which tax is paid.

In his closing remarks, the Mega Senior Regional Overseer (Mega SRO), Olawole Dahunsi, urged participants to adopt the new tax regime, as it will become the Federal Government’s fiscal policy in 2026.

Dahunsi thanked the resource persons for enlightening the public about the new tax law and called for the broader dissemination of the information.