Nigeria’s top tax official has stated that the country’s poorest citizens are the primary winners under a new tax law. The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacchaeus Adedeji, made the declaration in a television interview.
He explained that the government’s approach is not about increasing taxes. Instead, the reforms provide wide exemptions. According to Adedeji, over 95% of the poor are completely exempt from the new tax burdens.
A key benefit is the removal of Value Added Tax on all basic food items. The tax chief argued this directly helps low-income families, who spend nearly all their available money on food.
The tax relief also extends to public transportation. Adedeji said this sector is critical for the poor, making its exemption another significant advantage for them.
When all changes are considered, Adedeji stressed that the net result favors the most vulnerable. He concluded that the poor gain the most from the reform package.
The statement aims to clarify the intent of President Bola Tinubu’s new policy, presenting it as a measure designed to ease cost-of-living pressures on the majority.
