FG Clears Air on Tax Increase Rumours

The Federal Government has clarified that it has no plans to increase taxes, insisting that its focus is on expanding the number of taxpayers rather than imposing new tax burdens on citizens.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, made the clarification on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja.
Oyedele commended the institute for introducing a National Tax Awareness Day and for supporting the Federal Government’s ongoing tax reform initiatives.
He urged the CITN to intensify public enlightenment efforts, noting that many Nigerians still perceive taxation as a tool for government to take money from citizens rather than a civic responsibility that supports national development.
According to the minister, the government’s priority is not to raise tax rates but to ensure that all eligible taxpayers fulfill their obligations, thereby promoting fairness and increasing revenue generation.
“We are still not getting enough revenue from taxes. 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,” Oyedele said.
He stressed that broadening the tax base remains a key component of the administration’s economic strategy, aimed at improving revenue collection without placing additional financial pressure on compliant taxpayers.