JRB Abolishes All Road Stickers, Calls for End to Illegal Roadblocks and Non-State Revenue Collection

By Emmanuel Kwada 

In a decisive move to streamline Nigeria’s revenue system and curb unauthorized practices, the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) has announced the outright abolition of all road stickers and urged an immediate crackdown on illegal roadblocks used for revenue collection by non-state actors.

The declaration came in a communiqué released following the JRB’s 158th meeting, held from December 9 to 10 at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The board, which evolved from the former Joint Tax Board, emphasized its role in fostering a more coordinated and efficient national revenue framework amid ongoing federal tax reforms.

“The Board commends the Federal Government for the far-reaching fiscal policy and tax reforms, noting their potential for enhanced revenue mobilization, promotion of economic competitiveness, improvement of ease of doing business, and deepened fiscal sustainability across the federation,” the communiqué stated.

Highlighting the significance of the JRB’s establishment, the board noted that it “represents a bold step towards a more coordinated, efficient and coherent national revenue administration framework.” It is expected to bolster collaboration among revenue authorities, facilitate better information sharing, and boost tax compliance nationwide.

A key focus of the communiqué was the critical role of data in modern tax administration. “The Board affirmed that the future of tax administration hinges on accurate, comprehensive and interoperable data,” it read, resolving to strengthen data-sharing frameworks and deploy analytics tools to streamline processes and harmonize revenue practices.

Addressing persistent issues in revenue collection, the JRB reiterated its commitment to eliminating non-state actors from the nation’s revenue value chain.

It specifically called on the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies to dismantle illegal roadblocks along transport corridors that are used to collect taxes, levies, rates, and charges unlawfully.

“The Board restates its commitment to eradicating the menace of non-state actors in the nation’s revenue administration value-chain,” the statement said, urging immediate action to protect the integrity of tax processes, particularly at the sub-national level.

In a strong stance against outdated and unauthorized instruments, the board emphasized “the outright abolition of the design, production, issuance and enforcement of all manner of road stickers and related instruments by both state and non-state actors.”

It encouraged Nigerians to resist such practices and report promoters to security authorities for sanctions.

Furthermore, the JRB urged all states to accelerate the passage of the Harmonized Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Bill into law. This measure aims to ensure uniform application of taxes, rates, and levies at the sub-national level, aligning with the broader objectives of the national tax reforms.

The announcements are seen as part of a larger effort to enhance fiscal sustainability and ease of doing business in Nigeria, potentially reducing harassment on roads and promoting a more transparent revenue system.

Stakeholders in the transport and business sectors have welcomed the move, though implementation will depend on cooperation from state governments and security forces.