The African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) on Tuesday commended Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms and pledged technical support to strengthen the country’s revenue system.

ATAF Executive Secretary Mary Baine led a delegation to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) headquarters in Abuja, where she met with Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji.

“We applaud you… ATAF stands with you and is ready to provide whatever support will ensure success,” she said, according to a statement by the FIRS.

Founded in 2009 and based in Pretoria, ATAF is a network of more than 40 African tax authorities. It works to improve domestic tax systems through training, peer learning and engagement with international bodies, including the OECD.

Nigeria’s reforms, introduced under Adedeji since 2023, include a digitalisation drive that has automated most processes through platforms such as TaxPro Max.

A new legal framework signed by President Bola Tinubu in June consolidates four tax laws into a single structure, creating the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) from January 2026.

Officials say the measures aim to simplify compliance, reduce withholding tax rates and broaden Nigeria’s tax base. The country’s tax-to-GDP ratio is around 10 percent, below the African average of 16–18 percent, with government targets set at 18 percent by 2026.

FIRS reported revenues of 21.6 trillion naira in 2024, up 11 percent on target, and 20.62 trillion naira in the first eight months of 2025 a 41 percent increase compared with the same period the previous year.

Baine noted ATAF’s previous collaboration with Nigeria, including training in performance management, and said the organisation could provide expertise on mining revenue, citing Zambia as an example.

Adedeji, who also chairs the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators, said reforms should reflect African contexts rather than imported models.