A CRITICAL REVIEW OF NIGERIAN TAX REFORMS: LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS

Nigeria has embarked on a comprehensive and iterative process of tax reform, primarily driven by economic exigencies, the need to diversify revenue streams away from crude oil, and the objective of aligning domestic tax laws with global fiscal standards. This paper critically reviews the salient features of this reform era, spanning key legislative changes introduced via the Finance Acts (2019-2023) and culminating in the proposed, comprehensive 2025 Tax Reform Acts (Nigeria Tax Act-NTA, Nigeria Tax Administration Act-NTA, Nigeria Revenue Service Act-NRSA, and the Joint Revenue Board Act-JRBA). The paper also examines the legislative impact on key tax heads, including Companies Income Tax (CITA), Personal Income Tax (PITA), and Value Added Tax (VATA), paying particular attention to jurisdictional issues, taxpayer obligations, and the introduction of new compliance requirements for the digital economy and multinational enterprises. The paper adopts a doctrinal supplemented by policy analysis research methodology as it meticulously examines statutory provisions and judicial precedents from the Tax Appeal Tribunal and appellate courts to interpret the law as it stands. Furthermore, it incorporates policy analysis by evaluating the "legislative intent" behind these reforms, such as diversifying revenue streams away from crude oil and aligning domestic laws with global fiscal standards like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) and Development Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) framework. The review concludes that while the legislative intent is sound, the interaction between statutory novelty and judicial interpretation remains crucial for the sustainable implementation of the Nigerian tax overhaul.