A Nollywood film maker, Ugezu J. Ugezu, has said that Nigerians are not afraid of paying taxes but tax looters.
Speaking in a video posted on Facebook, Ugezu argued that many citizens would willingly fulfil their tax obligations if they could clearly see the impact of their contributions through improved infrastructure, quality public services, and national development.
According to him, Nigerians will be happy to pay their taxes if they see they what the government uses their tax money to do across the country.
He said, “The president is talking about introducing tax law. Let me be very sincere with you. Nigerians are not afraid of paying taxes. Nigerians are rather afraid of somebody looting the taxes they have paid, and we have seen it happen.
“You cannot be planning how you are going to tax the people, and you are not telling us what happened to the money that is being looted. So, an average Nigerian is afraid that if you pay taxes, they will loot it.
Now, if there is a system whereby people who are stealing government money are being made to face the law and we are seeing that the looters are being punished, we will be happy.
“If Nigerians are seeing what their taxes are used for, we will gladly be paying taxes.”
Ugezu maintained that transparency in the management of public resources would encourage greater trust between the government and the people, making tax compliance easier.
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