Anambra and Zamfara lead the way as states align with national tax reforms
As the 2025 calendar year winds down, a quiet but powerful revolution is taking place in the corridors of power across Nigeria. Two states from different ends of the country, Anambra and Zamfara, have taken the bold step to domesticate the new Nigeria Tax Administration Act.
This move is not just about paperwork; it is a clear signal that the sub-national governments are finally ready to sync their watches with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious fiscal reforms. For the average Nigerian who has struggled with the headache of paying the same tax to three different people, this news is the kind of end-of-year gift that actually matters.
As a professional editor observing our economic landscape, I see this as a necessary “house cleaning” exercise. For too long, our states have operated like independent islands when it comes to revenue collection, leading to a confusing web of levies that kills small businesses.
By adopting this new framework, Governors Chukwuma Soludo and Dauda Lawal are essentially telling investors that the “old way” of doing business is over. They are moving away from fragmented, opaque practices and toward a system that is transparent, predictable, and, most importantly, human-centered.
The Move Toward a Unified Revenue System
The decision by Anambra and Zamfara to harmonize their taxes is a direct response to the national call for a more efficient revenue system.
This harmonization means that instead of a business owner facing a barrage of different tax collectors, there will be a more streamlined “one-stop-shop” approach. Governor Soludo of Anambra State recently assented to the “Anambra State Taxes, Levies and Presumptive Tax Law 2025,” while Governor Lawal of Zamfara signed the re-enacted “Consolidated Revenue Laws.”
This is about creating a single, coherent framework for all state-collected revenues. In Nigerian English, we can call it a way to end the “tax wahala” that has plagued our markets and shops for decades. The goal is to ensure that every kobo collected is accounted for and that the process of collection does not become a burden that prevents people from growing their businesses.
By doing this, these states are positioning themselves as the first movers in a new era of fiscal discipline that will likely define the Nigerian economy from 2026 onward.
Soludo and Lawal Leading the Charge in the South and North
It is interesting to see the North and South join hands on this particular issue. In Anambra, Governor Soludo is using his background as an economist to push for a system that reflects the actual level of business activity in the state.
He is encouraging traders and manufacturers to keep proper records, promising that compliance will protect them from the dreaded “multiple taxation.” In the North, Governor Dauda Lawal is taking a similar path in Zamfara, recognizing that for his state to thrive, it must move away from archaic revenue models and embrace a modern, digitally-enabled framework.
These governors are following in the footsteps of Ekiti State, which was the first to domesticate the law. Their actions show a growing consensus among the Nigeria Governors’ Forum that the old system of “squeezing” the few available taxpayers is no longer sustainable. Instead, they are looking to expand the tax net by making the system fairer and easier to navigate.
This regional synergy is exactly what the country needs to bridge the gap between federal policy and local implementation.
Aligning with the Tinubu Fiscal Policy Roadmap
Everything we are seeing at the state level is a direct ripple effect of the four landmark tax reform bills signed by President Tinubu in mid-2025. These laws, which include the Nigeria Tax Act and the Nigeria Revenue Service Act, are designed to transform the Federal Inland Revenue Service into a more autonomous and tech-driven Nigeria Revenue Service.
The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, led by Taiwo Oyedele, has been the engine room behind this shift, drafting model laws that states can easily adopt.
The President’s vision is to simplify the nation’s tax regime by reducing the sheer number of taxes and strengthening the administration.
By domesticating these laws now, Anambra and Zamfara are ensuring they are ready for the January 1, 2026, commencement date. They are moving from a state of confusion to one of clarity, aligning their local policies with a national roadmap that seeks to separate tax policy from administration, thereby reducing the room for corruption and double-counting.
What this Means for the Average Nigerian Business Owner
At the end of the day, the real winners of this reform should be the market women in Onitsha and the small-scale farmers in Gusau. For years, these people have faced “agberos” and unauthorized collectors who demand “tickets” for everything from their shop location to the air they breathe.
Harmonization means that these multiple and overlapping charges will be eliminated. The new laws introduce exemptions for those earning the national minimum wage or less, ensuring that the poorest among us are not further burdened.
As an editor, I believe the success of this reform will be measured by the “Ease of Doing Business” on our streets. If a trader can pay their taxes through a simple mobile app or a single bank branch and know they are covered for the year, then we have won. This is a move toward shared prosperity where the rich fulfill their obligations and the small business owners are protected.
It is a bold, audacious step toward a more organized Nigeria, and we can only hope that the remaining states follow the lead of Anambra and Zamfara before the 2026 deadline.
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