By Stella Odueme
The Tinubu Support Group (TSG) has attributed the increase in Nigeria’s national revenue to the fiscal reforms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing over ₦21.6 trillion generated in the first half of 2026.
The Director-General of TSG, Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, where he described the revenue growth as evidence of the administration’s efforts to strengthen the country’s revenue generation system.
Yakasai said the increase reflected the impact of policies introduced to improve revenue collection, streamline tax administration and expand the government’s revenue base.
According to him, Nigeria recorded a significant increase in tax revenue during the first five months of 2026, rising to ₦16.80 trillion from ₦10.60 trillion recorded within the corresponding period of 2025.
He said the increase of ₦6.2 trillion represented substantial year-on-year growth, averaging more than ₦1 trillion monthly.
The TSG director-general commended the leadership and staff of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), for their contributions to the improved revenue performance.
He explained that the transition from FIRS to NRS, which took effect on January 1, 2026, formed part of the federal government’s tax reform agenda aimed at harmonising revenue collection, improving efficiency and digitising tax administration.
Yakasai noted that the new revenue framework was designed to strengthen the collection of both tax and non-tax revenues while supporting the government’s ambitious revenue targets.
He added that the transition operated under the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, 2025, which provides the legal framework for the agency’s operations.
According to him, the reforms also seek to centralise revenue collection functions previously distributed among different government agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The TSG chief further highlighted the emergence of Dr. Taiwo Oyedele as Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, succeeding Chief Wale Edun, describing the development as part of the administration’s efforts to advance its economic and revenue reform agenda.
He said the changes demonstrated the government’s determination to expand national revenue as a means of financing infrastructure development and other public projects.
“The transition only speaks to the fact that President Bola Tinubu is seriously focused, deliberate and intentional about expanding the revenue basket, without which much infrastructure development cannot take place,” the group stated.
Yakasai also pointed to improvements in revenue allocations to the three tiers of government, noting that increased Federation Account revenues had strengthened the financial position of states and local government areas.
He said available assessments indicated that revenue generation had continued to improve since Tinubu assumed office, with increased statutory allocations providing additional resources for subnational governments.
The group maintained that the trend reflected the impact of fiscal restructuring and improved revenue collection under the current administration.
It added that the increase in statutory allocations had placed greater responsibility on state and local governments to translate additional resources into improved public services and better living conditions for residents.
The statement also highlighted the monthly distributions by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), noting that gross statutory revenue in June 2026 reportedly increased by ₦1.05 trillion compared with the figure recorded in May.
According to the TSG, Federation Account allocations to the three tiers of government have more than doubled or tripled in some monthly comparisons over the past three years.
The group further cited an increase of more than 14.3 per cent in distributable revenue, arguing that the additional funds provided subnational governments with greater capacity to address development challenges.
However, it urged state governors and local government authorities to prioritise citizens’ welfare, particularly in tackling poverty and improving access to essential services.
The group said the call was particularly important in view of concerns about poverty reduction and the need for governments at all levels to ensure that increased public revenue translated into tangible benefits for citizens.
“We believe this is a sure way Nigerians will really feel the positive effect of President Tinubu’s reforms that have led to a surge in Federation revenue and improved the liquidity of the subnationals,” the statement said.
TSG added that state governments had a critical role to play in ensuring that the benefits of increased revenue reached the wider population, given that most Nigerians live in the country’s 36 states.
It maintained that effective deployment of additional allocations towards poverty reduction, infrastructure, healthcare, education and other essential services would help citizens experience the impact of the country’s improved revenue performance.