Some Nigerians have taken to social media to reject plans by the Federal Government to increase taxes.
The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, revealed the government’s plan to increase revenue by introducing new taxes while speaking at the public hearing on the 2019 budget organised by the Senate and House of Representatives committees on appropriation.
She said that the government would “identify new and enhance the enforcement of existing revenues streams.
“We plan to grow revenue by collecting new taxes, modulling the tax base and enabling strategic investment that will spur economic growth.
“In this area, we have identified some new taxes that we’ll be coming to discuss with the National Assembly.
“We’ve also continuously been working to broaden the tax base to expand and improve the value added tax performance.
“We will be working with the National Assembly to amend some laws and we might be using some executive orders.”
She failed to disclose the new taxes that will be introduced.
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However, some Nigerians took to popular online forum Nairaland to express their disapproval, urging the government to reduce the cost of governance and improve tax administration rather than increasing the pain of already over-burdened masses through introduction of new taxes.
Read comments monitored by our reporter below:
| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by Osyxcel(m): 6:35am |
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Tax administration in this country is too poor. All the government knows is to collect taxes. No proper accountability, no substantial improvement in the provision of infrastructures and basic amenities. Yet, you want citizens to pay their taxes accurately as at and when due. Now, you want to increase taxes and pile more miseries on the masses. I weep for my country. |
| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by ShameOnAPC: 6:08am |
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Another means to scam us
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by alphaNomega: 6:08am |
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Nigeria generates enough revenue already. Cut down the cost of governance!
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by stepo707: 6:09am |
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Next level things!
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by DogmaNation: 6:20am |
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They will pretend to increase the minimum wage, to make the people feel they have them at heart,but will use tax to take it away! APC=Scam!
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by Zendinho(m): 6:22am |
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If you did not vote in the just concluded elections, then you are to be blamed for this. South East and South South did themselves a great disservice for the low turnout PDP recorded in 2019… There’s hope because tribunal can still salvage Nigerians from this shambolic , vision less, despotic, dictatorial and totalitarian government. |
| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by Esseite: 6:28am |
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Their is something wrong in this country financially that the govt is not saying.
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by umarshehu58(m): 6:31am |
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What a country
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by Injiggerwolf(m): 6:31am |
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This guys are just desperately wicked
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by grandstar(m): 6:33am |
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What’s important is that they are pro- business policies. I would suggest a reduction in corporate taxes to 15% but enforce collection. They should also ensure collection of VAT. Present only 25% of potential VAT revenue is collected. With corporates taxes, it’s far worse. Simply ensuring collection of the above 2 taxes can increase government revenue by 1% of GDP.. For Nigeria, it’s the tax base stupid. |
| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by tunjijones(m): 6:33am |
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They shd cut down the cost of governance and leave the poor masses alone
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| Re: Nigeria To Introduce New Taxes To Increase Revenue – Minister by Brendaniel: 6:36am |
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This people are very wicked…
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