SAN urges lawyers to seize booming tax law opportunities
Excitement as NBA inaugurates Iseyin Branch Legal historian and tax law expert Olanrewaju Akinsola (SAN) has urged Nigerian lawyers to master the new tax regime’s opportunities. Calling taxation “the new
Excitement as NBA inaugurates Iseyin Branch
- From Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan
Legal historian and tax law expert Olanrewaju Akinsola (SAN) has urged Nigerian lawyers to master the new tax regime’s opportunities.
Calling taxation “the new frontier of legal practice,” he challenged them to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the evolving tax system.
Akinsola spoke when the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) formally expanded its footprint in Oyo State with the inauguration of its Iseyin branch.
The ceremony was marked by strong commitments to professional excellence, infrastructure development and grassroots access to justice.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), led a high-powered delegation of senior lawyers, judges, traditional rulers and community leaders to the event held at the Iseyin City Hall, Oja-Oba, at the weekend.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the turning of the sod for a new Bar Centre, which will be named Afam Josiah Osigwe Bar Centre upon completion.
Delivering a lecture on the topic: “The new tax order in Nigeria: What has changed, what has not,” Akinsola said recent reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration had firmly positioned taxation as a central pillar of the nation’s fiscal policy.
According to him, taxation is no longer a niche area but “the new frontier of legal practice,” urging practitioners to acquire relevant expertise to remain competitive.
He highlighted new opportunities in areas such as tax advisory, administration, dispute resolution and appointments within emerging tax institutions.
He noted that the reforms had streamlined previously fragmented tax laws into a more coherent framework.
According to him, the Tinubu Administration is leaving no one in doubt about the government’s fiscal direction.
He noted that the recent elevation of the former Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, to a ministerial role confirms taxation’s major role in Nigeria.
While stressing that legal practitioners’ role in the taxation architecture is “crystal clear,” Akinsola maintained that the fundamental question is how lawyers can benefit from this emerging market and the booming opportunities taxation represents.
“Those who master this architecture today will shape the fiscal future of Nigeria tomorrow,” he said.
He stressed that the legal profession is dynamic, and its members must be equally dynamic to remain relevant and seize emerging opportunities.
“Just as the legal profession has evolved structurally, so too has the fiscal architecture that sustains the Nigerian state,” he said.
Akinsola highlighted that taxation has dominated public discourse over the past year, following the National Assembly’s passage and President Tinubu’s assent to four major tax laws: Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act [Act No. 4 of 2025]; Nigeria Tax Administration Act [Act No. 5 of 2025];
Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (Establishment) Act [Act No. 6 of 2025]; and Nigeria Tax Act [Act No. 7 of 2025].
He said: “Ladies and gentlemen, taxation has come to stay in Nigeria. There is no question about that.
“The role of legal practitioners in the taxation architecture is also crystal clear.
“The fundamental question is: how can you and I, as legal practitioners, benefit from this emerging market and booming opportunities which taxation represents?”
Despite the new regime, Akinsola said certain elements remain unchanged: the taxes themselves, taxing authorities, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Tax Identification Number requirement.
On the positive side, he noted that the myriad pre-existing tax laws have been harmonised into these four, a welcome change. He listed the key highlights of the reforms, including:
• Establishment of the Tax Ombud;
• Full tax exemption for low-income earners;
• Protection threshold for small businesses;
• Exclusion of small companies from VAT obligations;
• Exclusion of land, buildings, and rent from Value Added Tax; and
• Exemption of lease agreements from Stamp Duty.
Explaining opportunities for lawyers, the guest lecturer said: “The new taxation architecture is full of opportunities for legal practitioners with specialised knowledge of tax law.
“We all know that legislation is the basis of taxation. In other words, there is no tax without law.
“This is the reason tax is a constitutional exception to compulsory acquisition of property regulated by section 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
He listed key opportunities, including political appointments, roles on the Joint Revenue Board, Tax Appeal Commissioner, Tax Ombud, accredited tax agents, tax officers, and law lecturing positions.
Akinsola emphasised the importance of passion, relevant professional tax training and qualifications, and mentoring for practitioners entering the field.
Raji pledges speedy completion of NBA House
Osigwe, who expressed surprise that Iseyin had operated for so long without a full-fledged branch, said the development was long overdue.
Driving from Ibadan to Iseyin, he noted, underscored the strategic importance of the town and the need for a functional NBA presence.
He charged members of the new branch to distinguish themselves through professionalism and service.
According to him, the branch must become “a pride not only to Iseyin but to Oyo State and Nigeria at large.”
He urged the leadership to uphold the ethics and dignity of the legal profession, while also prioritising pro bono services for indigent members of the community.
Osigwe also commended a leading member of the Bar, Ahmed Raji (SAN), for his pivotal role in the realisation of the branch.
Raji, who hosted the event, expressed deep appreciation to the NBA national leadership for approving the branch and for the president’s personal presence at the inauguration.
In a symbolic gesture of gratitude, he announced that the proposed NBA House in Iseyin would be named Afam Josiah Osigwe House.
Raji assured that the project would be completed in record time and pledged that the NBA president would be invited to inaugurate it upon completion, whether still in office or not.
He described the establishment of the branch as a milestone not only for lawyers in the area but for the entire community, noting that it would strengthen access to justice and professional collaboration.
The event also featured the unveiling of a branch bus donated by Raji, further underscoring his support for the growth of the association in the zone.
Chief Judge of Oyo State, Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice Muftau Adegbora, congratulated the branch and urged members to remain committed to ethical conduct.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, represented by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abiola Abiodun, described the new branch as a boost to the administration of justice in the state.
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He commended Raji for his continued support to the justice sector, including the renovation of the Ministry of Justice library.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the branch, Olugbenga Bamgbose, said the inauguration marked the culmination of years of perseverance by lawyers in the area.
He noted that the branch evolved from the Iseyin Lawyers Forum and called on members to remain united and committed to its growth.
Chairman of the inauguration committee, Yekeen Salau, described the event as the beginning of a new chapter, adding that the branch would serve four local government areas: Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa, and bring the NBA closer to the grassroots.
Traditional ruler, the Okere of Saki, Oba Khalid Oyedepo, said the branch had the full backing of the traditional institution and would enhance justice delivery in the region.
