The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council and the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS) have agreed to work together toward sensitizing the public on the details and implications of the country’s new tax policies with a view to empowering citizens to properly interpret the new tax laws.
This consensus was reached on Wednesday, January 20, 2026 during a courtesy visit by the RIRS Chairman, Israel Egbubefu on the Chairman of NUJ Rivers State Council, Paul Baziah-Nsaneh, at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre (NUJ Secretariat), Port Harcourt, RIvers State.
The RIRS Chairman was represented by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Dr Emmanuel Legbosi, who led the institution’s team on the visit.
The Rivers State Internal Revenue Service boss said his Agency is poised to educate the citizens on the operations of the new tax laws, explaining that the visit was necessitated by the Agency’s ongoing advocacy.
He indicated that the RIRS management is willing to partner with the NUJ in its quest to educate members of the public on the new tax regime with a view to ensuring that they get the right information out to the common man.
He noted that the new tax law signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 came with worries in the minds of the citizens, stating that their mission is to douse such tension.
“Our people need to identify what the law is and what the law is not, identify what is tax clearance and what is not a tax clearance”
” We want to work with you to see that all these are forestall, with NUJ being the forth estate of the realm , the news will be closer to the people” he added.
Dr Legbosi commended the efforts of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara for projects such as the Port Harcourt Ring Road and the Trans Kalabari Road, noting that such projects when completed will help boost internally generated revenue for the State.
Responding, the NUJ Rivers State Council Chairman, Paul Bazia-Nsaneh harped on the crucial role of the Media in interpreting policies for citizens on economic changes like the new tax policy.
He stresse that education of journalists on the new tax laws is germane as it focuses on how these reforms impact journalism and service to the public.
“Journalists are trained to look at the facts. If we must look at the facts, it will come from authorities like yours; hence, it is very important that we are trained so we can properly inform members of the public.”
“If journalists are properly equipped, they will in turn ensure that the people are educated”
Bazia-Nsaneh advised the RIRS to send its personnel to attend the upcoming Congress of the NUJ Rivers State Coucil where it would have the opportunity to speak to members of the Union, assuring that the NUJ will play its role to ensure that the people are educated on the new tax law.