By Kingston Magare 15.5.2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged citizens to pay up their taxes to prove they belong to the country they live.
Tinubu who embarked on an aggressive tax reform to beef up government revenue said at the Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda that individuals who fail to pay taxes to constituted authorities cannot truly be regarded as citizens. He added that taxation is the backbone of development in any country.
“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,” Tinubu said.
“Every human being expects development, but the question they don’t answer is, how do you pay for it? You want a very good highway, but you don’t want it to go through your land. How do you develop?
“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? How do you even research and develop the pharmaceutical industry?” he asked.
“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.”
Nigerians have often implored the government to justify payment of taxes because, basically citizens provide for themselves electricity, security, elementary education, basic health and other amenities government ought to provide.