‘Tax Payment Is A Civic Duty, Not A Punishment’ – FIRS Tells Nigerians

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has called on Nigerians to stop perceiving tax payment as a burden or punishment, stressing that it is a civic responsibility and a vital tool for national development.

Speaking at a one-day sensitization workshop on The Role of the Media in Voluntary Tax Compliance in Kaduna, the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said many citizens still misunderstood the purpose of taxation.

Represented by his Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media, Arabinrin Aderonke Atoyebi, Adedeji stated:

“One thing keeps happening – many people do not always see taxes as a civic duty. For some, paying taxes feels like a burden or a punishment. For others, it is seen as something to avoid.”

He emphasised that beyond enforcement and penalties, Nigeria needs to build a culture of voluntary compliance, where citizens willingly fulfil their civic obligations because they understand the benefits.