Nigeria’s economic development will be phenomenal if it gets its tax compliance level right, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, has said.
According to him, Nigeria’s problem is not necessarily the need to impose more taxes but to ensure that those who are expected to pay taxes actually do so.
Oyedele stated this on Thursday in Abuja when a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) paid him a courtesy visit. The visit was part of activities marking the 2026 National Tax Awareness Day.
He said public perception of taxation remains one of the biggest challenges facing the country’s revenue system.
One year after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed Nigeria’s landmark tax reform laws, many Nigerians still view taxation as a way for the government to take money from citizens rather than as a tool for national development.
“We are still not getting enough revenue from tax. It is not about increasing taxes but making sure that those who are supposed to pay tax do so. We want to promote fairness in tax administration,” he said.
Oyedele noted that a well-functioning tax system could significantly accelerate Nigeria’s development and improve public services across the country.
“If Nigeria gets its tax system right, the level of development will be monumental,” he stated.
He commended CITN for introducing the National Tax Awareness Day and for its support of the Federal Government’s tax reform programme. He urged the institute to intensify efforts to educate citizens on the benefits of taxation and also proposed the creation of annual awards to recognise outstanding tax-compliant individuals and businesses.
Earlier, officials of CITN visited the headquarters of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), where they were received by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Services, Mohammed Abubakar, who represented the Executive Chairman of the Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji.
