By Esther Ososanya
The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, has said Nigeria needs to strengthen its domestic revenue mobilisation capacity to support sustainable national development, particularly as global economies move away from reliance on commodities.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja through Mrs. Ndidi Chineyolum, a director in the ministry, at the TaxADR Roundtable themed “Unlocking Revenue and Strengthening Dispute Resolution: A Roadmap to Tax ADR in Nigeria,” Uzoka-Anite said expanding the country’s non-oil revenue base is a strategic priority.
“With the global shift away from commodity dependence, Nigeria must strengthen its domestic revenue capacity to sustain national development,” she said.
The minister noted that while tax expansion is vital, it comes with significant challenges, especially in ensuring broad-based compliance and addressing increasingly complex tax disputes.
She explained that prolonged litigation in tax matters had become costly and counterproductive, often delaying revenue collection and eroding public trust.
“Such friction undermines more than just revenue modernisation. It weakens investor confidence, erodes public trust, and disrupts the foundation of a stable and predictable fiscal environment,” she added.
Embracing Alternative Dispute Resolution
To address these issues, the minister called for the integration of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms into the tax system. She said ADR could help reduce friction between taxpayers and tax authorities while fostering dialogue, trust, and accountability.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Arbitration, Mr. Oloyede Hussein, echoed the need for tax reform rooted in transparency.
Need for Collaboration and Reform
Also speaking, the Coordinating Secretary of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, Anita Erinne, highlighted how tax disputes not only impact government revenue but also affect livelihoods.
She praised the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for advancing tax transformation and commended its Executive Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, for supporting ADR integration into tax policy.
Founder and convener of the TaxADR Roundtable, Mr. Lateef Yusuff, said the event came at a crucial time following several landmark developments, such as the enactment of the Arbitration and Mediation Act and the rollout of Nigeria’s National ADR Policy.
He said the roundtable aimed to create a unified framework for embedding ADR into the country’s tax dispute resolution system, thereby enhancing efficiency, trust, and compliance in Nigeria’s revenue ecosystem.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.