The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has reiterated that every Nigerian who earns an income, regardless of their occupation, has a legal responsibility to declare it for tax purposes.
Speaking on Friday during an interactive session with journalists, influencers, and public analysts on the recently enacted tax reforms, Oyedele emphasized that the obligation to self-declare income is not new but a long-standing requirement under existing tax laws.
“Sex workers, agberos — everybody has the responsibility to self-declare. That is the first obligation in the law,” he stated.
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On June 26, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four key tax reform bills into law, which are expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. The reforms aim to simplify Nigeria’s tax system, expand the tax net, and promote transparency in revenue generation.
Clarifying public concerns, Oyedele said the new tax regime does not introduce new taxes or impose levies on previously untaxed individuals. Instead, it reinforces the principle that all forms of earned income — whether from formal or informal sectors — must be declared.
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“These new tax laws are not imposing taxes on anyone who was not taxable before,” he explained.
“If I am an agbero calling people to enter a vehicle and I get paid, how is that different from a waiter in a hotel, an accountant, or a factory worker? The law does not exempt anyone who earns an income.”
Oyedele noted that tax authorities around the world assess income without considering morality or legality.
“There are court judgments all over the world to say that when it comes to tax matters, there are no questions about morality or legality,” he said.
“Otherwise, people would simply make their work illegal to avoid paying tax. Around the world, tax laws cover all income — whether legal or not, moral or not. In fact, the U.S. IRS once issued a notice that says, if you steal, you must declare it for tax purposes.”
‘Undeclared Income Can Be Traced’
Explaining how the system detects undeclared income, Oyedele said modern financial systems can track earnings through transactions, savings, and investments.
“If the agbero does not declare and the journalist does not declare, how do we find out? Through system validation,” he said.
“When you earn money, if you don’t tell us, you either spend, save, or invest — and all of that involves third parties. Those records can be validated.”
Oyedele had earlier clarified that income earned by commercial sex workers and others in the informal economy will also be subject to taxation under the new framework.
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According to him, the overarching goal of the reform is to promote fairness, accountability, and inclusiveness — ensuring that all Nigerians contribute their fair share to national development.
