The House of Representatives has given the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Finance Committees three weeks to fix the issue of double taxation affecting low-income earners in Nigeria.
This action followed a motion by Rep. Peter Aniekwe (LP-Anambra), who pointed out the struggles Nigerians are facing due to rising inflation, unemployment, and the high cost of living. He explained that the multiple taxes and levies from different government levels are making life even harder, especially for people with low incomes.
The lawmakers agreed that while taxes are needed for government revenue, they should not add to the financial burden of citizens. They suggested other ways to boost revenue, like expanding the tax base, improving tax collection, reducing wasteful spending, and fighting corruption. They also recommended focusing on increasing exports of agricultural products.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas ordered the committees to review the country’s tax policies and find ways to remove unnecessary taxes within three weeks. He said this would help ease the burden on citizens while still allowing the government to meet its revenue targets. The House also called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate the public about their tax rights and encourage them to report unfair taxation.
