President Bola Tinubu has praised the proposed tax reforms as a "new dawn," emphasizing their potential to transform Nigeria's tax system and boost the country's revenue generation.

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has announced his determination to proceed with four tax reform bills currently under consideration by the parliament, despite facing opposition from some state governors.

These reforms are part of the president's broader agenda to revamp Nigeria's tax system and increase revenue in the continent's largest economy. However, a contentious proposal on the allocation of Value Added Tax (VAT) between the federal government and the 36 states has sparked significant disagreements. A group of federal lawmakers has criticized the proposal, arguing that it would reduce allocations to the northern region.

"Tax reform is here to stay; we cannot just continue to do what we were doing years to years in today’s economy. We cannot retool this economy with the old broken books, and I believe I have that capacity—that is why I went into the race," President Tinubu stated during his maiden roundtable discussion with journalists, which was broadcast on Monday night.

Last month, Nigeria’s parliament began deliberations on the four bills, which the president described as the beginning of a new era.

"I am focused on what Nigeria needs and what I must do for Nigeria. I am convinced, and you should be convinced," Tinubu remarked, underscoring his commitment to the reforms.

Despite this, the northern political class, including several federal lawmakers and state governors, has voiced strong opposition to the bills. They have either rejected the reforms outright or demanded wider consultations. Critics from the northern region argue that the reforms disproportionately benefit Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital, and Rivers State in the oil-rich Niger Delta, where many local and international companies are headquartered.

The northern region has accused Tinubu of favoring Lagos, a city where he was raised and governed as governor between 1999 and 2007. This perception of bias has heightened resistance to the proposed reforms.

Although the federal government has repeatedly denied allegations that the reforms are intended to marginalize the north, these assurances have failed to placate critics in the region. Earlier this month, the president's office dismissed the northern criticisms, stating they are "not grounded in facts, reality, or sufficient knowledge of the bills."