FG Rejects Tax Hike Reports, Focuses on Tax Base Expansion

The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed reports suggesting a plan to increase taxes, asserting that its primary focus is on expanding the country's tax base. Taiwo Oyedele, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, made this statement during a meeting with a delegation from the Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria at their office in Abuja on Thursday.

Oyedele commended the institute for introducing a national tax awareness day to support the government's ongoing tax reform agenda. He urged the institute to intensify public enlightenment campaigns, noting that taxation should be viewed as a civic responsibility that supports national development.

The minister emphasized the government's objective to improve tax compliance, ensuring that individuals and businesses fulfill their legal tax obligations. He reiterated that the government is not looking to increase taxes but rather to promote a fair tax administration that broadens the tax base and improves government revenue.