President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that individuals who fail to pay taxes to constituted authorities cannot truly be regarded as citizens, stressing the importance of taxation in national development.
Tinubu made the remarks on Friday while speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Rwanda.
According to the President, although many people dislike paying taxes, they still expect government to provide infrastructure and social services.
“Taxation is not friendly to the wealthy, the middle class, or the poor. Everyone wants development, but the question they don’t answer is how the government pays for it,” Tinubu said.
“Every human being expects development, but the question they don’t answer is, how do you pay for it? You want a very good highway, but you don’t want it to go through your land. How do you develop?”
The President also questioned how governments can provide quality healthcare and protect vulnerable citizens without adequate tax revenue.
“You want a good hospital, well-equipped hospital, and you don’t want to pay taxes. How do you care for the vulnerable, and how do you protect the future of the children? How do you even research and develop the pharmaceutical industry?” he asked.
Reflecting on the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Tinubu said governments must carefully plan how public funds are generated and utilised.
“We remember COVID-19, we remember what happened to the world at large. So, in a world where you cannot predict what exactly you must do, you must think about where the source and application of funds should be engineered, so that tax is a priority,” he stated.
The President maintained that paying taxes is a key civic responsibility for both individuals and companies.
“A citizen who pays taxes is a citizen, whether corporate or individual. If you are not a taxpayer and not exempted, then you are not a citizen,” Tinubu added.