Umuahia, Abia State – February 13, 2026 — Abia State Governor Alex Otti has thrown his full weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s new tax reform laws, describing them as well-grounded and reflective of sound fiscal principles that he himself advocated nearly a decade ago.
Speaking during a public engagement in Umuahia on Wednesday, Governor Otti pushed back against growing criticism of the reforms, insisting that many detractors do not fully understand the provisions or the long-term benefits they are designed to deliver. He particularly praised the work of Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, and urged Nigerians to engage the policy substance rather than resort to attacks.
“Almost 10 years ago, I wrote about the fiscal side of things. When I read the new tax reform law, I saw many of those arguments reflected in it,” Otti stated. “I thank Prof. Oyedele. When people attack him, they don’t understand.”
The governor’s endorsement is one of the most prominent and detailed public defences of the tax reform package from a sitting state chief executive. Otti, an economist and former banker by training, referenced his earlier writings and public commentary on Nigeria’s fiscal challenges, including the need for broader tax bases, improved revenue administration, reduced multiple taxation, and greater reliance on non-oil sources of income.
The tax reform bills—currently before the National Assembly—seek to overhaul Nigeria’s fragmented and inefficient tax system through measures such as:
- Harmonisation of taxes across federal, state, and local levels
- Introduction of a development levy to replace certain existing charges
- Strengthening of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and state revenue authorities
- Simplification of tax compliance procedures for small businesses and individuals
- Reforms aimed at boosting non-oil revenue and reducing dependence on petroleum proceeds
While proponents argue the changes will enhance transparency, boost internally generated revenue (IGR) for states, and create a more predictable fiscal environment, critics—including some state governors, labour unions, civil society groups, and small business owners—have raised concerns over potential increases in the cost of living, adverse effects on low-income earners, and perceived over-centralisation of tax powers.
Governor Otti dismissed much of the opposition as stemming from a lack of deep engagement with the policy details. He emphasised that the reforms are not about punishing citizens or businesses but about building a more sustainable and equitable fiscal framework capable of funding infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security without perpetual reliance on volatile oil revenues.
The Abia governor’s support is particularly significant given his reputation as a reform-minded administrator who has prioritised fiscal discipline, transparency, and investment attraction in Abia State since assuming office in 2023. Under his leadership, the state has recorded notable improvements in internally generated revenue, road infrastructure, and public sector efficiency—outcomes he attributes partly to sound fiscal management principles similar to those embedded in the national tax reform proposals.
By linking the current reforms to arguments he made nearly ten years ago, Otti positioned the policy as a continuation of long-standing expert consensus rather than a sudden or politically driven initiative. His remarks also serve to shield Prof. Oyedele from sustained personal attacks that have characterised much of the public debate surrounding the bills.
The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, led by Prof. Oyedele, has consistently maintained that the proposed changes aim to make Nigeria’s tax system fairer, simpler, and more efficient while protecting vulnerable groups through targeted exemptions and relief measures.
Governor Otti’s intervention comes at a critical moment as the tax reform bills undergo clause-by-clause debate in the National Assembly. Public hearings and stakeholder consultations are ongoing, with lawmakers expected to balance competing interests before final passage.
The Abia State chief executive urged Nigerians—particularly state governments, business leaders, and civil society—to study the bills thoroughly and engage constructively rather than reject them outright. He expressed confidence that, once fully understood and implemented with transparency, the reforms would strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal foundation and deliver long-term economic benefits for all citizens.
As the national conversation on tax reform intensifies, Governor Alex Otti’s defence represents one of the clearest articulations of support from the sub-national level, reinforcing the Tinubu administration’s argument that the changes are necessary, evidence-based, and aligned with expert thinking on Nigeria’s fiscal future.
