Senate President Godswill Akpabio has come under fire from the Organised Labour – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) – over his recent remarks on tax evasion in Nigeria.
Akpabio, speaking at a public hearing on the Tax Reform Bills before the Senate on Monday, claimed that only 30 per cent of Nigerians pay tax, yet citizens demand extensive infrastructure, security, and other government services.
Akpabio’s comment has sparked swift reactions from labour unions and economic stakeholders, who argued that government unaccountability and poor service delivery were key reasons many Nigerians avoid tax payments.
Deputy President of TUC, Dr. Tommy Okon, dismissed Akpabio’s claims, questioning the credibility of his statistics.
“We do not know where he got his facts from in a country where there is a dearth of data. If what he is saying is true, how come the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) always surpasses its set target?” Okon asked.
He further argued that workers do not evade taxes, as their payments are deducted directly from their salaries, unlike the wealthy elite who often exploit loopholes to avoid taxation.
“This government has taxed the masses enough, and it is even the wealthy few that evade payment of tax, not the workers whose taxes are deducted from source,” he added.
NECA also weighed in, blaming the government for failing to justify tax payments with tangible benefits.
NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, acknowledged that tax compliance in Nigeria was low but insisted that government inefficiency was a major factor.
“It is not far from the truth that the majority of Nigerians don’t pay tax. While this is quite unfortunate, the government too has been culpable in giving the citizens many reasons not to pay, especially as the benefits of the taxes collected are not seen by many,” Oyerinde stated.
He emphasised that while tax reforms were necessary, there must also be accountability in revenue utilisation to regain public trust.
