Adeosun: 46m Economically Active Nigerians Not Tax Compliant

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on Thursday said despite the five million increase in the number of tax-compliant Nigerians from 14m to 19m within a space of two years, there are still 46m others, or 70.76% economically active people outside of the tax net.
Addressing a World Bank Mission of 10 Executive Directors led by Patrizio Pagano in Abuja, Adeosun spoke of the Federal Government’s desire to mobilise more revenues by growing the number of tax-compliant people so as to drive its growth plan for the economy.
“We have been able to grow the tax payers’ base to 19m in two years from the 65 million economically active people who are not tax complaint,” she said.

Besides further growing the number of tax-compliant persons, Adeosun assured that the administration would accelerate Nigeria’s growth level and also improve the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in the country.
“The Nigerian Government is working towards accelerating the country’s growth level. The growth will be underpinned by stimulating the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ in Nigeria and improving our capital expenditure which we have done in the last two years.
“Nigerians should trust the Government to deliver on its promises of improving the economy and providing sustainable infrastructure development. We are very optimistic but we will remain vigilant,” Adeosun said.

A statement by Oluyinka Akintunde, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance quoted Pagano as saying the team was in the country to acquaint itself with the Government’s growth and power priorities.
“We have met with several Nigerian entrepreneurs and have seen how vibrant the private sector is. We want to understand how the power sector is evolving in Nigeria,” Pagano said.

The World Bank officials representing 96 countries, had earlier met with the organised private sector in Lagos and undertaken a tour of LAPO Microfinance project in Lagos and are expected to inspect the Azura Power Plant in Edo State as part of the three-day visit to Nigeria.
The visit is expected to provide a first-hand impression of the challenges that both the Federal and State Governments face in implementing development projects as well as ensuring good governance overall.
It will further enhance the goal of the bank for member-countries and the effectiveness of the Executive Directors in providing the necessary support.

Photo Caption: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse (Left); Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Leader of the World Bank Mission to Nigeria and Executive Director of the Bank, Patrizio Pagano, during a meeting with the Minister at the Federal Ministry of Finance on Thursday, May 10, 2018.

https://investdata.com.ng/2018/05/adeosun-46m-economically-active-nigerians-not-tax-compliant/