Joint Revenue Board Declares War on Illegal Tax Roadblocks and Stickers; Urges States to Harmonize Levies

Abuja, Nigeria – The newly transitioned Joint Revenue Board (JRB), formerly known as the Joint Tax Board (JTB), has concluded its 158th meeting in Abuja with strong resolutions aimed at sanitizing the nation’s revenue collection system and harmonizing taxes at the sub-national level.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the two-day meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton on December 9th and 10th, 2025, the Board took a decisive stance against the harassment of taxpayers by non-state actors on Nigerian roads.

The Official Communiqué

Below is the full text of the communiqué issued at the end of the 158th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board:

Crackdown on Illegal Roadblocks and Stickers

A major highlight of the meeting was the Board’s renewed commitment to eradicating what it termed the “menace of non-state actors in the nation’s revenue administration value-chain.”

The JRB explicitly called on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, and relevant security agencies to take “immediate steps towards eliminating illegal road-blocks mounted and operated along the nation’s road transport corridors for the purpose of collection of taxes, levies, rates and charges.”

Furthermore, the Board re-emphasized the “outright abolition” of the design, production, and issuance of road stickers by both state and non-state actors. In a move to empower citizens, the JRB encouraged Nigerians to “resist” such demands and report anyone promoting the issuance of these stickers to security authorities for sanctions.

Push for State Tax Harmonization

To address the issue of multiple taxation and create a uniform business environment across the country, the Board issued a strong call to state governments.

The communiqué urges all States to “expedite action in the passage of the Harmonized Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Bill into Law.” The goal is to achieve a uniform application of taxes, rates, and levies at the sub-national level, aligning state practices with the national objectives of ongoing tax reforms.

Transition from JTB to JRB

The meeting, themed “Managing Transition: Driving Transformation, Building the Future of Tax Administration in Nigeria,” marked a significant milestone as the body officially transitioned from the Joint Tax Board into the Joint Revenue Board (JRB).

The Board lauded this transition as a “bold step towards a more coordinated, efficient and coherent national revenue administration framework.” The new JRB structure is expected to strengthen collaboration among revenue authorities nationwide and significantly enhance information sharing.

The Board also affirmed that the future of tax administration hinges on “accurate, comprehensive and interoperable data,” resolving to strengthen data-sharing frameworks to streamline processes.

The communiqué was signed by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, PhD, in his capacity as Chairman of the Joint Revenue Board, and Olusegun Adesokan, the Executive Secretary of the JRB.