The Joint Revenue Board says 18 state Houses of Assembly have adopted a model tax harmonisation law intended to reduce overlapping charges on individuals and businesses.

Executive Secretary Olusegun Adesokan disclosed this at the board’s 160th meeting in Kaduna, where officials reviewed progress and implementation challenges.

According to Adesokan, the framework consolidates more than 50 state and local government collection items into nine categories. He said it also prohibits cash collection and revenue-collection roadblocks.

Adesokan rejected suggestions that the reforms had increased taxes across the board, saying low-income earners and micro-businesses were receiving relief.

Opening the meeting, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani urged revenue authorities to address administrative weaknesses and use technology to improve collection processes.

He emphasised that reform should make compliance easier and strengthen taxpayers’ willingness to meet their obligations, rather than focus solely on increasing revenue.

The board said the meeting would help identify outstanding gaps in implementation. Punch