Ahead Jan. 1 kickoff, tax board to transition to Joint Revenue Board

The Joint Tax Board (JTB), Nigeria’s apex coordinating body for tax administration, has unveiled a new brand identity as it announced preparation for its formal transition to the Joint Revenue Board (JRB). Daily Trust reports that the transition follows the signing into law of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025 by President […]

The Joint Tax Board (JTB), Nigeria’s apex coordinating body for tax administration, has unveiled a new brand identity as it announced preparation for its formal transition to the Joint Revenue Board (JRB).
Daily Trust reports that the transition follows the signing into law of the Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 26, 2025.
The new brand identity was formally unveiled during the Board’s 158th Meeting, held on Wednesday in Abuja
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, described the new logo and accompanying brand elements as significant symbols of the institution’s evolution.
“The new brand identity represents renewal, transformation, and our collective commitment to excellence in revenue administration. It reflects what the JRB stands for and will guide our activities and operations in the emerging dispensation,” Adedeji said.
The JTB Chairman noted that the transition to the JRB marks a major step toward a more unified and efficient national revenue administration architecture. The reform, he said, is expected to deepen collaboration across revenue authorities, strengthen information sharing, and improve tax compliance nationwide.
He urged member States and relevant agencies to align fully with the reform agenda and complete all necessary adjustments within their jurisdictions to ensure the seamless implementation of the new tax Acts, which come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Addressing the meeting’s theme, “Managing Transition: Driving Transformation, Building the Future of Tax Administration in Nigeria”, Adedeji emphasised the need for continuous capacity development, sustained investment in modern infrastructure, and strong collaboration among all tiers of government to position Nigeria’s tax system for the future.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mr. Olusegun Adesokan said with the transition, the JRB will create a revenue-friendly environment that works for everyone. Adesokan stated that the JRB is already working with revenue authorities to harmonise silos of taxpayers’ data to create a national database for the Tax ID project, adding that Tax ID will be generated for individuals and corporates using foundational data like NIN and company registration number.
The Executive Secretary added that the JRB will do much more in harmonising taxes, levies and rates across the country, disclosing that Chairmen of Internal Revenue Services who are members of the Board are already driving the domestication of a uniform taxes and levies Act in their respective States.
Background
Daily Trust reports that President Bola Tinubu in July signed into law the four new tax bills recently passed by the National Assembly, which among others, included renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
At the event in Abuja, the President described the sweeping new legislations as pivotal to the success of the administration’s reforms and the country’s prosperity.
The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill (Ease of Doing Business), which aims to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented tax laws into a harmonised statute; the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, which will establish a uniform legal and operational framework for tax administration across federal, state, and local governments.
Others are the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, which repeals the current Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and creates a more autonomous and performance-driven national revenue agency— the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS); and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, which provides for a formal governance structure to facilitate cooperation between revenue authorities at all levels of government.

 

FIRS Chairman after the signing ceremony stated that the implementation of the newly signed law would commence on January 1st, 2026.

 

He said the new tax laws would now build a framework for a more focused and unlocking system, creating opportunities for all.

 

What the transition means

 

Checks by Daily Trust show that the transition is primarily governed by the new Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, 2025, which repeals the former JTB framework.

 

By implication, it means that while the JTB mainly focuses on personal income tax coordination, the JRB will have a broader mandate to coordinate all revenue administrations across federal, state, and local government levels in Nigeria, enhancing intergovernmental synergy.

 

Subsequently, the new framework and the full transition are slated for implementation on January 1, 2026.

 

Furthermore, the Act also establishes two other critical institutions under the Joint Revenue Board’s umbrella to improve the tax environment, which include the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT), a body for swift and professional resolution of tax disputes across different tax laws as well as the Office of the Tax Ombudsman (OTO), an office dedicated to receiving and investigating complaints regarding administrative malpractice or unfair treatment of taxpayers by revenue agencies.

 

Further checks show that the reforms aim to streamline administration, eliminate multiple taxes, improve compliance, and boost Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio without placing an undue burden on low-income earners or small businesses.