JRB embarks on early tax education initiative, donates textbooks to Abuja schools

IN a bid to nurture a tax-conscious future generation, the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) has launched an early tax education initiative, donating instructional books to public primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of activities marking International Children’s Day 2026.

The initiative, which targets children at the foundational level of education, seeks to demystify taxation, promote financial literacy, and highlight the critical role of public revenue in funding essential services such as roads, schools, and healthcare. By introducing tax concepts early, the JRB hopes to build a stronger culture of voluntary compliance among future taxpayers.

During a sensitisation and enlightenment visit to four schools, the board donated official gazetted copies of the Nigerian Tax Laws, Personal Income Tax Guidelines, and the children-friendly book titled The Secret of the Good Land – A Foundational Tax Education Book. The materials are designed to spark interest in taxation while encouraging a reading culture among young learners.

The beneficiary schools are Army Children’s School, Maitama; Model Primary School, Bwari; LEA Primary School, Wuse Zone 2; and LEA Primary School, Kuje.

READ ALSO: Budget crisis tops agenda as Nigeria’s Jimoh Ibrahim takes helm of key UN committee

Speaking during the visits, head teachers of the beneficiary schools commended the JRB for the thoughtful intervention. Mrs Mubo Alaimoh, Headmistress of Army Children’s School, Maitama, and Mrs. Ruqqayat of LEA Primary School, Wuse Zone 2, along with Mr Yahaya Shaibu of LEA Primary School, Kuje, and Mr. Josiah David of Model Primary School, Bwari, praised the Board’s commitment to extending tax knowledge to children at such a young age.

The educators assured the JRB that the books would be put to good use, integrated into the schools’ learning activities, and that the knowledge gained would help shape the children into responsible and model citizens who understand the importance of taxation in nation-building.

The JRB described the book donation and sensitisation programme as the beginning of a broader early tax education drive aimed at primary and secondary school students across the FCT and potentially beyond. Officials emphasised that catching children early, before they enter the workforce, is essential to changing long-held misconceptions about taxes and fostering a sense of civic responsibility.

Tax experts welcomed the move, noting that low tax literacy remains one of the major challenges to revenue generation in Nigeria. Initiatives like this, they argue, will complement recent tax reforms by building grassroots understanding and reducing future compliance gaps.

The JRB’s early tax education initiative aligns with broader national efforts to widen the tax net through awareness rather than solely enforcement, especially as the country implements the Nigerian Tax Administration Act 2025.