At 48, Dr. Zacch Adedeji stands at the centre of one of the most consequential reforms in Nigeria’s economic history. Calm, methodical, and unapologetically reform-minded, Adedeji has earned the moniker “The Taxman” not through rhetoric, but through action — by leading a sweeping transformation of Nigeria’s tax system designed to make it fairer, broader, more efficient, and fit for a modern economy.

In a country long dependent on oil revenues and burdened by a fragmented tax structure, Adedeji’s work represents a decisive break from the past.

Rewriting the Architecture of Taxation

Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria enacted a landmark set of tax reform laws that fundamentally altered the nation’s revenue framework. Central to this reform was the replacement of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), not merely a change of name, but a redefinition of mandate, structure, and philosophy.

The reforms harmonized previously overlapping tax laws, streamlined administration across federal and sub-national levels, and created a single, modern revenue authority with clearer powers and stronger accountability. For decades, Nigeria’s tax system had been characterized by complexity, inefficiency, and duplication. Adedeji’s reforms sought to eliminate these bottlenecks and build a system capable of supporting long-term national development.

From Tax Burden to Tax Fairness

A defining feature of Adedeji’s revolution is its emphasis on fair taxation. Rather than increasing tax rates, the reforms focused on correcting structural injustice within the system.

One of the most significant interventions was the removal of VAT from essential goods and services, including food, healthcare, education, and accommodation. This move directly addressed the cost-of-living pressures faced by ordinary Nigerians and signalled a shift from revenue extraction to social sensitivity.

At the same time, multiple nuisance taxes and overlapping levies were eliminated, reducing the burden on businesses especially small and medium-scale enterprises that form the backbone of the Nigerian economy. By broadening the tax base instead of raising rates, the reforms aimed to ensure that more people participate in the system without punishing productivity.

Digitalizing Revenue, Blocking Leakages

Adedeji’s tax revolution is also a technology-driven one. Under his leadership, Nigeria’s revenue administration has embraced digital transformation as a tool for transparency, efficiency, and enforcement.

New systems for e-invoicing, improved taxpayer identification, data integration, and intelligence-led compliance have strengthened the government’s ability to track revenue and curb evasion. These measures have reduced human interference, limited corruption opportunities, and improved the ease of compliance for taxpayers.

International partnerships, including technical cooperation with advanced tax authorities, have further strengthened institutional capacity, positioning Nigeria’s tax administration among the most forward-looking in Africa.

People-Centred Reform, Not Just Numbers

Unlike traditional fiscal reforms focused solely on revenue figures, Adedeji’s approach places the citizen at the centre. Low-income earners have been shielded through personal income tax exemptions, while simplified payment channels, including digital and mobile platforms, have made compliance more accessible.

For small businesses, artisans, and informal sector participants, the reforms represent a shift from fear and harassment to clarity and inclusion. The message is clear: taxation should be understandable, predictable, and fair, not punitive.

A Long-Term Vision for National Stability

Adedeji has consistently emphasized that tax reform is not an overnight fix. The full stabilization and optimization of the new system, he argues, will take years of disciplined implementation. This long-term outlook reflects a commitment to sustainability rather than short-term political wins.

If successfully executed, the reforms are expected to significantly improve Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, reduce dependence on volatile oil revenues, and provide the government with predictable funding for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social services.

A Legacy Taking Shape

At 48, Dr. Zacch Adedeji is not merely administering taxes; he is redefining Nigeria’s fiscal future. By transforming revenue collection from a fragmented, mistrusted system into a unified, modern institution, he has laid the groundwork for a more resilient and inclusive economy.

History will judge the full impact of these reforms in the years to come. But already, one fact is undeniable: Nigeria’s tax conversation has changed. And at the heart of that change stands The Taxman, a reformer whose revolution is reshaping how a nation funds its future.

Suspected bandits on Tuesday night attacked personnel of the National Park Service (NPS) in Oloka village, Orire Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State.

Report says the attack occurred around 9:00 pm on January 6, 2026, catching the NPS personnel by surprise. Several officers were reportedly killed or injured during the incident.

Further details, including the exact number of casualties, are yet to be confirmed.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, was said to have confirmed the incident.

He said, “Yes, there was an attack by yet to be identified men against the men of the National Park. The Commissioner of Police and other service chiefs are currently on their way to the location.

“Meanwhile, the CP Femi Haruna has deployed tactical teams, Mobile Police Force officers of the NPF, and EOD to the affected area to prevent further breakdown of law and order,” he explained.

The Labour Party’s Vice Presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, on Wednesday formally declared his interest in contesting the presidency in 2027, amid ongoing realignments within Nigeria’s opposition space.

Baba-Ahmed, who was the running mate to former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the declaration at a rally held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

His announcement comes barely one week after Obi announced his departure from the Labour Party for the African Democratic Congress.
This move has triggered intense debate over the party’s future and the direction of the wider opposition ahead of the next general election.

Addressing party members and supporters, Baba-Ahmed said his aspiration was neither reactionary nor dependent on Obi’s political decisions, stressing that his presidential ambition predates the 2023 election.

He said, “I have made myself to contest for the office in 2027. I’m not following anybody’s trajectory or stepping into anybody’s shoes.

“Can I please remind you that before His Excellency Governor Peter Obi filed for the presidency, I aspired for the presidency before him? The records are there for you to see.”

The former lawmaker recalled his earlier attempt to secure his party’s presidential ticket, noting that he had contested in the Peoples Democratic Party primaries years before aligning with Obi in the Labour Party.

“In October 2018, I participated in the primaries of the then PDP in Port Harcourt and walked to Obi for his vote, and he smiled at me. What a gentleman he was.

“If you heard me well in what I just submitted, I saw a rare opportunity for national unity to have elected Peter Obi in 2023. And that is why I decided to flow with it,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed also addressed concerns about religion and ethnicity, insisting that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees every qualified citizen the right to seek elective office.

“Yes, I am a practising Muslim. But I’m a Nigerian, and the constitution allows me to contest. You asked about my ethnicity. Yes, I am a Hausa man, and the Nigerian constitution also allows me to contest. I’m doing this because Nigeria needs help,” he said.

However, Baba-Ahmed noted that while he had made his intention known, he would adhere strictly to party and electoral guidelines.

“However, as a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it. But remember I told you that Nigerians know the truth,” he stated.

Reacting, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, commended Baba-Ahmed for remaining in the party despite speculations that he might defect following Obi’s exit.

Abure said the development demonstrated that the Labour Party remained intact, adding that several key figures, including the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, had also chosen to stay back.

He said, “Only recently, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, told the world that he joined the party before Peter Obi did – this is true. Otti also said he was not going to defect to Peter Obi.

“On the night Peter Obi defected, I received a telephone call from our Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed. He said he is not leaving the party because it was the platform upon which he, along with the former candidate, received 10 million votes from Nigerians, which was reduced to 6 million votes. We all know what happened.”

Abure further disclosed that Baba-Ahmed personally suggested a meeting of party leaders and members to reaffirm unity within the party.

“In fact, he asked me to organise an event where members can come together. He first suggested that we meet at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel with a few senior members that he would foot the bill.

“But I suggested that we hold the event here at the party Secretariat and invite our members, artisans and ordinary people who truly own the party, and he agreed. That is why we are having this gathering here today.

“The Labour Party is intact, we will not let Nigerians down. We will remain together and provide a genuine alternative for Nigerians,” he said.

Baba-Ahmed’s declaration has added a fresh dimension to the emerging 2027 presidential contest, as parties begin early positioning amid shifting alliances within the opposition.