The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reiterated its commitment to pushing for public support for the effective implementation of the Federal Government’s tax reforms, which are scheduled to take effect in January 2026 when the new Tax Act comes into force.
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Director of Communications and Media, Bala Musa, the Director General of NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made this commitment when he received members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, led by its Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, on a courtesy visit to the NOA in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
According to Issa-Onilu, technology has made it easy for mischievous individuals to spread fake news and incorrect narratives about the new tax laws with ease.
He therefore emphasised the importance of sensitising Nigerians on the benefits of the tax laws to counter the wrong narratives spread by those who are either genuinely ignorant of its provisions or acting out of mischief and with ulterior motives aimed at undermining the government’s efforts to improve the tax system.
The Director General of NOA explained that the new Tax Law will be beneficial to Nigerians, as it specifically addresses the issue of double taxation that companies, business owners, workers, individuals, and investors currently face, among other improvements.
He underscored the NOA’s ability to reach wide audiences across the country with its advocacy and national enlightenment campaigns, noting that the Agency has a wide spread of offices nationwide with competent staff who regularly embark on community mobilisation and sensitisation to promote government policies and national values.
Issa-Onilu also highlighted the Agency’s ability to work intelligently by identifying different demographics across the country and applying the communication models appropriate for reaching and appealing to each group.
“We have done mapping across the country for engagements with all Nigerians; that is why we can engage groups such as associations, CSOs, traders’ unions, leaders, women groups, youths and many others. We do engagements with different groups across the country, and our staff are usually chosen from among the people so the people trust them; that is part of the advantage we have.”
Partnership with the Media
Issa-Onilu also stressed the extensive partnerships the NOA enjoys with media houses across the country as part of its strength in communicating policies to every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
“We work with over 200 radio stations across the country, and partner with 36 television stations, all put together broadcasting in about 72 local languages,” he revealed.
Issa-Onilu pointed out that the NOA is leveraging modern technology, including the use of Artificial Intelligence, to disseminate government information.
“We launched our own version of ChatGPT called CLHEEAN, a special Voice/Chat Assistant where Nigerians can engage and get authentic information on all government policies,” he said.
The Director General declared that: “these are tools we have to assist and support the committee in sensitising Nigerians on the new tax laws.”
Speaking earlier, Mr Oyedele of the Tax Reforms Committee revealed that his team was at the NOA to seek support for pushing out accurate information about the new tax laws and countering the wrong narratives pervasive in the media and other public spaces.
“We believe that working together with NOA will ensure the passage of accurate information to Nigerians, even to those at the grassroots to know the benefits of the new tax laws.
“We observed that there is a lot of misinformation to people especially those at the grassroots, including farmers, concerning the law. And the aim of such is to make them hate the government ignorantly,” he noted.
He added that: “Though we are engaging multinationals, Nigerians at different levels and from the different tribes and languages need to know the benefits they will get from the said law and support it.
“We may need to create scenarios and have farmers, students, CEOs and others to say what the reform can do for them. These can counter the wrong narratives by some content providers that are against the law,” he stated.
According to Oyedele, when people are sensitised and become aware of the benefits they will derive from the new tax law, they will not protest against it since it is in their best interest.
Joint Committee
At the end of the interaction, it was agreed that a joint committee of the NOA and the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms would be formed to ensure proper and effective communication of the tax reforms.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the new tax laws to the DG of NOA, Malam Issa-Onilu, by the Tax Reforms team, and the presentation of the National Value Charter plaque to the Committee Chairman, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, by the NOA leadership.
The Tax Reforms Bill was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June this year as part of efforts to simplify and strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal system.