An economist, Daramola Omoyele, has called on the Nigerian government to include religious institutions in its new tax reform, stressing that corruption and inequality would continue to undermine the system if powerful groups remain exempt.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, Omoyele said the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (2025) introduced positive measures such as a unified tax ID system and stricter compliance, but warned that the reform would fail if it “burdens the powerless while sparing the powerful.”
He noted that despite the increase of the personal tax exemption threshold to ₦800,000, many Nigerians still suffer from multiple levies and indirect taxes that inflate living costs. Omoyele argued that excluding religious institutions—many of which generate enormous, untaxed income—creates inequality and public distrust.
He criticized the lavish lifestyles of some pastors and imams, saying, “Many Nigerians are more willing to pay tithes and offerings than taxes. Through these payments, some leaders have built vast empires while citizens bear the cost of public services.”
Omoyele maintained that taxing wealthy religious organisations would promote fairness, accountability, and civic responsibility, noting that “paying tax is not a sin; it is an act of service to society.”
He also urged the government to tackle corruption in tax administration, arguing that many Nigerians avoid taxes because they no longer trust that public funds will be used responsibly. “Until corruption is tackled and all income, including religious wealth, is fairly taxed, citizens will continue to view taxation as oppression, not obligation,” he said.
According to Omoyele, Nigeria’s tax reform must be built on equity, transparency, and accountability — ensuring that both religious institutions and wealthy elites contribute their fair share, while protecting low-income earners from excessive taxation.
