The Tinubu administration has unveiled a sweeping tax policy that takes effect in January 2026.
Under the new law, every Nigerian earning income, regardless of source or profession, must pay taxes.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has announced that beginning January 2026, every Nigerian who earns an income will be required to pay taxes, regardless of the nature of their work.
Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Reforms, explained the new framework while addressing members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David parish in Lagos, on Saturday. He emphasized that the revised law, signed by President Tinubu in June, places no distinction between earnings from legal businesses and those from activities considered unlawful.
According to Oyedele, any form of service or transaction that generates money will now attract tax. Using sex work as an example, he noted that those engaged in prostitution commonly referred to as “runs” fall under the taxable category. “If someone offers companionship or similar services in exchange for money, that counts as income, and tax will be due on it,” he explained.
He further stressed that tax regulations are concerned only with whether or not money is made, not the source. “The law doesn’t ask how the money was earned, whether the activity is considered proper or not. The key question is simple: did you receive payment for a product or service? If yes, then you are expected to pay tax,” Oyedele added.
For many years, earnings from prostitution and similar activities have gone untaxed in Nigeria. However, Tinubu’s government is now signaling its intent to widen the tax net to capture all possible sources of revenue as part of efforts to stabilize the economy.
The new law will also extend to social media influencers and Nigerians working remotely for foreign companies, especially those who earn in foreign currencies.
