…moves to sanitize tax administration, stop illegal levies
The Joint Revenue Board (JRB), formerly known as the Joint Tax Board (JTB), has announced an immediate nationwide ban on the collection of road taxes, levies, and related charges through checkpoints.
The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 158th meeting of the board, held on December 9 and 10, in Abuja.
This was conveyed in a statement signed by Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Joint Revenue Board, and Olusegun Adesokan, its executive secretary.
The meeting, themed “Managing Transition: Driving Transformation, Building the Future of Tax Administration in Nigeria,” focused on the board’s transition from the Joint Tax Board to the Joint Revenue Board and its implications for national and sub-national revenue administration.
The directive, which applies to both state and non-state actors, also prohibits the use and enforcement of road stickers on highways across the country.
The board further emphasised the outright abolition of the design, production, issuance and enforcement of road stickers and similar instruments by both state and non-state actors.
The JRB urged Nigerians to resist such practices and report offenders to security agencies for appropriate sanctions.
In addition, the board called on all states to fast-track the passage of the harmonised taxes and levies (approved list for collection) bill into law.
This significant policy shift is part of the Board’s broader efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s tax administration system and eliminate the menace of multiple taxation and harassment of motorists.
The decision is expected to bring relief to logistics companies, transporters, and private motorists who have long decried the extortion and delays caused by the proliferation of revenue checkpoints on Nigerian roads.
By this order, the Board aims to streamline revenue collection processes, ensuring they align with global best practices and respect the freedom of movement of goods and persons.
Authorities are expected to provide further details on the enforcement mechanism to ensure total compliance by state revenue agencies and local government actors.