Nigerian Government Says It Will Not Raise Taxes

The Federal Government has clarified that it is not raising tax rates, emphasizing that Nigeria needs more taxpayers instead.

Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele made the statement on Thursday during a visit from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to his Abuja office.

Oyedele praised the institute for launching a National Tax Awareness Day and for supporting the current tax reforms underway in the country.

He urged the institute to intensify its public education efforts, noting that many Nigerians still view taxation as a mechanism for the government to extract money from citizens.

The minister reiterated that the government’s priority is not to increase tax rates but to expand the tax base by ensuring all eligible taxpayers fulfill their obligations.

“We are still not getting enough revenue from taxes,” he said. “It is not about increasing taxes but making sure that those who are supposed to pay tax pay. We want to promote fairness in tax administration,” he added.