Nigeria Finance Minister Prioritizes Expanding Taxpayer Base

Nigeria's Finance Minister, Taiwo Oyedele, clarified on Thursday that the federal government's priority is to expand the number of taxpayers rather than raise tax rates. Speaking in Abuja during a meeting with officials from the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Oyedele emphasized that the country's revenue challenge stems from a narrow tax base, not insufficient rates.

The minister's remarks coincided with the institute's inaugural National Tax Awareness Day, which featured a taxpayer sensitization campaign at Abuja's Wuse Market and a visit to the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS). The event also marked one year since President Bola Tinubu signed landmark tax reform legislation into law on June 26, 2025.

Oyedele stated that a significant obstacle to improving revenue is public misunderstanding, with many citizens viewing taxation merely as the government taking money. He stressed the goal is to ensure all eligible taxpayers meet their obligations within a fair system. The minister argued that building an efficient and equitable tax system would have a transformative impact on national infrastructure and development. He also challenged the CITN to introduce annual...