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The Federal Government has inaugurated an Inter Ministerial Committee to develop the 2026 Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order, a major step towards ensuring the smooth implementation of Nigeria’s new tax laws and providing greater certainty for businesses, investors and tax administrators.

The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, inaugurated the Committee on Friday, charging members to deliver a modern and practical VAT framework that reflects the intent of the Tax Reform Acts and responds to the realities of today’s economy.

He described the Tax Reform Acts, which came into effect on 1 January 2026, as the most extensive changes to Nigeria’s tax system in decades, noting that the reforms simplify tax administration, improve certainty, strengthen competitiveness, protect vulnerable Nigerians and create a stronger foundation for sustainable economic growth.

The Minister explained that while the previous VAT Modification Order made under the repealed VAT Act had served its purpose, the new legal framework requires a fresh Order to provide clarity, update relevant schedules and support the effective implementation of the Nigeria Tax Act.

“This is not about reproducing an old document,” Mr. Oyedele said. “It is about developing a VAT Modification Order that is clear, practical and responsive to the needs of a changing economy.”

He stated that the new Order should remove uncertainty, make compliance easier for taxpayers, support investment decisions and provide tax administrators with clearer guidance in implementing the law.

The Minister directed the Committee to undertake a thorough review of the legal framework, administrative practices and policy directives governing VAT administration, particularly the VAT exempt and zero rated provisions contained in Part IV of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, while identifying areas that require further clarification.

He also charged members to engage extensively with stakeholders across government, the organised private sector, professional bodies and other interest groups to validate classifications, address implementation concerns and ensure that the final recommendations are practical and balanced.

Oyedele further instructed the Committee to recommend a comprehensive schedule of VAT exempt and zero rated supplies, taking into account revenue implications, social impact, Nigeria’s treaty obligations and regional integration commitments.

In addition, the Committee is expected to prepare a clear and implementable VAT Modification Order that aligns with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Act and, where necessary, recommend amendments to the Tax Reform Acts and other enabling laws to strengthen implementation.

The Minister urged members to ensure that every recommendation remains faithful to both the letter and the spirit of the new tax laws, adding that the Order should encourage industrial growth, support investment, promote exports, strengthen food security, encourage innovation and facilitate Nigeria’s energy transition without compromising the integrity of the VAT system.

He also stressed the need to reduce ambiguity in VAT administration so that taxpayers, investors, regulators and tax administrators can operate with greater confidence and certainty.

Oyedele further encouraged the Committee to draw from international experience while ensuring that the final document reflects Nigeria’s unique economic realities and development priorities.

The Committee has been given six weeks to complete its assignment and submit a Draft VAT Modification Order, schedules of VAT exempt and zero rated supplies with their corresponding Harmonised System Codes, implementation notes, a stakeholder consultation report and recommendations on any legislative amendments considered necessary.

Membership of the Committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Nigeria Revenue Service, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Joint Revenue Board, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the Tax Advisory Committee and the Tax Justice and Governance Platform.

Expressing confidence in the calibre of the Committee, the Minister said the blend of expertise drawn from government and the private sector provides a strong foundation for producing a technically sound and practical instrument that will support the effective administration of VAT under the new tax regime.

“Nigerians cannot wait,” the Minister said. “Businesses need certainty. Investors need confidence. Government needs a VAT system that is easy to administer and supports growth. I urge you to approach this assignment with diligence, objectivity and a sense of urgency.”

He noted that the Committee’s work would shape the administration of one of Nigeria’s most important taxes, improve the ease of doing business, strengthen investor confidence and support the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s fiscal reform agenda.

He formally inaugurated the Inter Ministerial Committee on the 2026 VAT Modification Order and wished members success in the discharge of their national assignment.

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A Kano State High Court has sentenced a resident of Farawa in Kumbotso Local Government Area, Shuaibu Abdulkadir, to death by hanging for the murder of 22-year-old Rumaisa Shuaibu.

The judgment was delivered on Friday by Justice Farida Dan Baffa, who found the defendant guilty of culpable homicide punishable with death under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

Abdulkadir was arraigned before the court on August 23, 2025, on a one-count charge following investigations into the killing.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, called three witnesses, including the deceased’s husband, Ibrahim Muhammad; the defendant’s fiancée, Asiya Abdulmalik; and the investigating police officer, ASP Chindo Chiwa.

To prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, the prosecution tendered several exhibits, including a video recording of the crime, a flash drive containing electronic evidence, the defendant’s written confessional statement, English and Hausa transcripts of the confession, photographs of the deceased marked as Exhibits D–D4, the knife allegedly used in the attack, marked as Exhibit E1, and the defendant’s mobile phone.

Following the close of the prosecution’s case, the defence, led by Mustapha Idris, presented its arguments before the court.

After reviewing the evidence, Justice Dan Baffa held that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Abdulkadir guilty of murdering Rumaisa Shuaibu after she became pregnant for him. The court subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.

Reacting to the judgment, the Kano State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, SAN, described the conviction as a significant milestone in the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that criminal cases are prosecuted professionally, fairly and diligently.

According to him, the judgment reflects the determination of the Kano State Ministry of Justice to protect the rights of victims, uphold the rule of law and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions.

Maude also commended the prosecuting counsel, Basiru Kabiru Aliyu, for what he described as exceptional professionalism, meticulous preparation and dedication throughout the trial, noting that his performance reflected the high standards expected of state counsel in the ministry.

He urged all state counsel to remain steadfast in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by conducting prosecutions with integrity, competence, fairness and an unwavering commitment to justice.

The attorney general reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the prosecution of serious criminal offences, safeguarding citizens’ rights, promoting law and order, and ensuring that justice remains the foundation for peace, security and sustainable development in Kano State.

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A United States Congressman, John James, has renewed his call for the release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, linking the separatist leader’s continued incarceration to what he described as religious persecution against Christians in Nigeria.

James, a Republican representing Michigan, made the appeal on the floor of the US House of Representatives on while urging lawmakers to support H.Res. 1321, a resolution he introduced on May 22, 2026.

The resolution, which is currently before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, urges the Nigerian government to ensure that all legal proceedings involving Kanu comply with the country’s Constitution and international human rights obligations.

Addressing fellow lawmakers, James alleged that Nigeria had become the world’s deadliest country for Christians, claiming that tens of thousands had been killed since 2019 in what he described as a sustained campaign of religious violence by Islamist extremists.

“Since 2019, tens of thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been slaughtered as part of a sustained pattern of religiously motivated violence by Islamist jihadis ignored or enabled by the Nigerian government,” he said.

He further alleged that extremist groups, including Boko Haram, continued to operate with little or no effective response from Nigerian authorities.

James also criticised Kanu’s conviction on terrorism charges, describing the trial as a “farce show trial” and portraying the IPOB leader as someone punished for speaking out against the killings.

According to him, Kanu, who is serving a life sentence, should either be granted a fresh trial conducted in line with Nigeria’s Constitution and international legal standards or be released unconditionally.

“I implore my colleagues to support my bill, H.Res. 1321, calling on the Nigerian government to conduct another trial in accordance with its own constitution based on evidence with access to legal counsel, medical care, and international law pertaining to humane conditions of detention, or better yet, release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally,” James said.

The congressman also questioned continued American financial assistance to Nigeria, saying the US should not continue funding a country where Christians were allegedly being persecuted.

“America gives billions to Nigeria. We will not continue to fund a Christian genocide,” he said, adding that the United States had a moral responsibility to ensure Christians in Nigeria could worship freely.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025, by the Federal High Court in Abuja after Justice James Omotosho found him guilty on terrorism-related charges.

The IPOB leader has remained in custody following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2021 and subsequent transfer to Nigeria.

James’ resolution also references a July 20, 2022 opinion by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which concluded that Kanu’s detention violated international human rights standards and recommended his release alongside appropriate remedies.