Only 19% of Nigerians pay taxes, according to studies conducted by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), revealed Executive Chairman Zacch Adedeji.
Adedeji shared these findings during the launch of a new book, “Taxation: Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children,” which aims to educate young Nigerians about the importance of tax compliance from an early age. The book was published with the full support of the FIRS.
Represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Research and Statistics, Aisha Mahmoud, Adedeji stated, “We have run a couple of studies and we have found out that tax compliance is positively correlated with tax education.”
He emphasized the importance of educating children about taxes, saying, “When children are educated, they grow up to become responsible people, pay their taxes and do what is right… We have carried out studies and we have found out that only 19 percent of Nigerians pay taxes.”
Adedeji noted that some reports indicate compliance as low as 10 to 15 percent. He added that it is easier to instill tax compliance in children than to reform tax-dodging adults, explaining the FIRS’s support for initiatives like the book launch.
These comments come as the Nigerian government intensifies efforts to increase tax revenue.
President Bola Tinubu, in a speech marking his two years in office, announced the establishment of a Tax Ombudsman to protect vulnerable taxpayers and ensure fairness, particularly for small businesses.
Tinubu also highlighted the introduction of a new national fiscal policy to guide fair taxation, responsible borrowing, and disciplined spending, laying the foundation for a more sustainable future.
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