RMAFC Chairman says less than 40 million Nigerians pay taxes

Muhammad Shehu, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has said that less than 40 million Nigerians are currently included in the tax system and are paying taxes.

According to him, Nigerians need to start contributing their taxes to boost government revenue and improve public service delivery.

He made this disclosure while featuring in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.

According to him, the number of Nigerians within the tax bracket is too small compared to her population.

Speaking further, he encouraged that more Nigerians should be enrolled into the tax bracket to ensure a boost in the economy.

He said,

Continuing, he lauded President Bola Tinubu’s recent move to create a Tax Reform Committee, expressing support for both the decision and its underlying concept.

He guaranteed that the committee would put forth extensive efforts to encompass members of the informal economy within the tax system.

In response to recent criticism from Nigerians of allegations about a 114 per cent rise in political office holders’ salary suggested by the commission, during what they described as severe economic challenges in the country.

Shehu said it was untrue what was said concerning the pay rise.

To determine and assess the wages of executive, legislative, and judicial authorities, he asserted, was RMAFC’s constitutional duty.