President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has underscored the vital link between tax compliance and national development, asserting that responsible citizenship requires contributing to government revenue.
Speaking on Friday at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, the President observed a disconnect between the public’s demand for high-quality infrastructure and their willingness to fund it through taxes. He maintained that taxation remains the most viable path to funding roads, hospitals, education, and research.
“Everyone wants development, but the question is: how will the government pay for it?” the President asked. He noted that while citizens frequently demand better highways and social welfare, many resist the very taxation required to sustain those programs—a stance he described as unrealistic.
The President further linked revenue stability to national resilience, citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that governments must strengthen internal revenue sources to prepare for future global shocks.
In a strongly worded statement on the obligations of the people, Tinubu said, “A citizen who pays taxes is a citizen, whether corporate or individual. If you are not a taxpayer and not otherwise exempted, then you are not a citizen.”
He concluded by reiterating that consistent tax compliance is the only way to ensure sustainable growth and the delivery of improved public services across Nigeria.
