President Bola Tinubu has declared that anyone who fails to pay taxes to the constituted authority cannot be considered a true citizen of Nigeria.
The President made the remark on Friday while speaking at the ongoing Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda.
Tinubu noted that while nobody enjoys paying taxes, citizens must contribute to enjoy the infrastructure and services provided by government.
“Taxation is not friendly to the wealthy, the middle class, or the poor. Everyone wants development, but the question they don’t answer is how the government pays for it,” he said.
He added: “You want a very good highway, but you don’t want it to go through your land. You want a good hospital, well-equipped hospital, and you don’t want to pay taxes. How do you care for the vulnerable, and how do you protect the future of the children?”
The President stressed the importance of taxation for national development, especially in an unpredictable world, citing the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of why governments must plan and have reliable sources of funding.
“A citizen who pays taxes is a citizen, whether corporate or individual. If you are not a taxpayer and not exempted, then you are not a citizen,” Tinubu asserted.
The statement comes as the federal government continues to push tax reforms aimed at expanding the revenue base and improving public service delivery.
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