The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ungogo Branch, Kano State, has held a fireside chat to deepen lawyers’ understanding of the 2025 consolidated tax laws, with emphasis on compliance, enforcement and the expanding role of legal practitioners ahead of the law’s commencement on January 1, 2026.

SolaceBase reports that the event, which also featured the unveiling of the branch’s 2026 diary and the honouring of distinguished members, drew legal practitioners, academics and young lawyers to deliberate on the practical and constitutional implications of Nigeria’s tax reforms.

Speaking during the programme, the Chairman of the NBA Ungogo Branch, Barrister Ahmad Abubakar Gwadabe, said the session was designed to equip lawyers with adequate knowledge of the new tax regime and prepare them for its enforcement.

He noted that the discussions focused on helping legal practitioners understand their responsibilities under the law in order to guide clients appropriately and avoid actions that could amount to non-compliance or tax evasion.

Gwadabe also said the engagement addressed widespread misconceptions surrounding the tax reforms, adding that the speakers highlighted the advantages embedded in the legislation.

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He urged the public to seek guidance from experts, including accountants and economists, to better understand the law and its benefits.

Gwadabe stated that, “The 2025 consolidated tax law is meant for us to understand the implications, the enforcement and the roles of lawyers in compliance and enforcement with the new tax law, which will be enforced by the 1st of January 2026.

“Lawyers must be well equipped with the provisions of the law so that they can guide their clients appropriately and also avoid being caught up with non-compliance of the tax law or evasion of tax, which is a criminal offence.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Kabiru Adamu, said the new tax regime would significantly alter Nigeria’s tax landscape and directly impact legal practice and public policy.

He explained that the consolidated legislation was introduced to simplify taxation, improve administration and revenue collection, eliminate multiple taxation and harmonise conflicting tax provisions.

He added that the reforms, while aimed at efficiency, raise important legal and constitutional questions for lawyers, particularly in areas such as enforcement powers, adjudication by tax authorities, compliance procedures, dispute resolution and the protection of fundamental rights.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Nuhu Musa Idris of the Faculty of Law, Bayero University Kano, focused on the central role lawyers are expected to play in tax administration under the new legal framework.

He explained that the law imposes expanded responsibilities on legal practitioners and requires a thorough understanding of its provisions.

Idris said, “The presentation is mainly on the role of lawyers in tax administration, particularly these new tax laws that are going to commence operation by 1st January.

“Lawyers need to understand the level of responsibility imposed by law on them and the key role they are supposed to play in achieving the objectives of the legislation.”

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He cautioned lawyers against prioritising client protection over compliance, stressing that honest and informed advice was essential under the new tax regime.

“It is not in all cases that a lawyer must advise a client to go against the law,” he said. “On tax matters, lawyers need to be well grounded in the nitty-gritty of the law before advising their clients.”

Also speaking, a participant and Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum of the NBA Ungogo Branch, Mbrusa Dauda Ngada, said the programme helped to clear misconceptions surrounding taxation, including concerns about tax brackets and bank transactions.

“There is a lot of misconception about tax law, and even myself coming into this programme, I had a lot of confusion. But the programme helped to clarify those misconceptions.

“I am now more educated about tax and understand that it is not meant to destroy us or merely enrich the government, but to also help society,” Ngada said.

He advised Nigerians to educate themselves on tax laws and explore lawful mechanisms for tax relief rather than attempting to evade tax obligations.

The fireside chat featured lectures, interactive discussions and a question-and-answer session, as the NBA Ungogo Branch outlined steps to prepare its members for the effective implementation of the 2025 tax reforms.