Government officials have said misinformation, public apprehension and weak civic attitudes remain major obstacles to the success of Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.
Speaking at an event on fiscal policy, Michael Ango, acting executive chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, said initial acceptance of the reforms was slowed by negative and often uninformed commentary that created fear among Nigerians. He said sustained public engagement by government officials and the Presidential Fiscal Policy Committee had, however, helped to address some of the concerns.
“The first challenge is the one of apprehension that was created by some of the negative commentary — uninformed commentary,” Ango said.
“But thankfully, we have been able to overcome that largely due to the work the Presidential Fiscal Policy Committee has done in explaining that these reforms are really for Nigerians.”
Ango said beyond misinformation, Nigeria’s tax challenge is also linked to weak citizen engagement with public institutions and a broader culture of delayed compliance.
“For us as tax administrators, the next challenge is attitude,” he said.
“You don’t renew your driver’s licence until you are forced to. You don’t pay your taxes until the tax authority writes to you.”
He said poor enforcement and influence peddling also weaken tax administration, especially when individuals attempt to use personal connections to avoid tax assessments.
According to him, ongoing reforms are intended not only to improve revenue collection but also to change how citizens view taxation, encouraging them to see the system as something to engage with rather than fear.
The remarks add to growing government efforts to build public trust around tax reform as authorities push wider fiscal measures aimed at improving compliance and strengthening public revenue.
