The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has reaffirmed its commitment to mobilising public support for the effective implementation of the federal government’s tax reforms, set to take effect in January 2026.
The Tax Reforms Act, signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June, aims to simplify and strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal framework.
In a statement, the agency highlighted the need to sensitise citizens to the benefits of the new tax laws to counter misinformation being circulated by individuals who are either unaware of the provisions or deliberately spreading falsehoods to undermine government efforts.
According to the statement signed by Mr. Bala Musa, Director of Communication and Media, NOA Director General, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the commitment during a courtesy visit by members of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, led by its chairman, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
Issa-Onilu noted that the rise of digital technology has made it easier for misleading narratives and fake news to spread.
He stressed that the new Tax Law offers significant benefits, including addressing the long-standing issue of double taxation faced by companies, business owners, workers, individuals, and investors.
The statement further reads, “The DG underscored NOA’s ability to reach wide audiences across the country with its advocacy and national enlightenment campaigns, noting that the Agency had a widespread spread of offices across the country with competent staff who regularly embark on community mobilisation and sensitisation to promote government policies and national values.
“He also highlighted the ability of the NOA to work intelligently, identifying the different demographics across the country and applying the communication models appropriate to reach and appeal to each demographic.
“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.”
Malam Issa-Onilu also highlighted the extensive partnerships with media houses, which the NOA enjoyed across the country as part of its strength to communicate policies to every nook and cranny in the country. “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.
In addition, Issa-Onilu pointed out that the NOA was 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 told the NOA guests.
Concluding, the NOA DG declared that “these are tools we have to assist and support the committee in sensitising Nigerians on the new tax laws.”
Earlier, Mr. Oyedele of the Tax Reforms Committee had revealed that his team was at the NOA to seek support for the committee in pushing out the right information about the new tax laws and countering the wrong narrative that was pervasive in the media and other public spaces.
He said, “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 continued, “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.
Oyedele is convinced that when people are sensitised and become aware of the benefits they would derive from the new tax law, they will not protest against it since it is in their best interest.
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 be formed to pursue the agenda of communicating the tax reforms properly and effectively.
The highlight of the visit of the Tax Reforms Committee was the presentation of the new tax laws to the DG 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.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
