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Oyedele says New Tax Act to take effect January 2026 includes all sources of income
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Social media influencers, remote workers earning in foreign currency also targeted
Government signals stricter revenue drive amid economic stress
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele has declared that all Nigerians earning an income, legal or illegal, will pay tax under new fiscal reforms set to be enforced from January 2026, including women engaged in prostitution, popularly referred to as “runs.”
He stated this on Saturday while addressing members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish, Lagos.
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He explained that the law treats all earnings as taxable, without distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate sources.
“If somebody is doing run girls, they go and look for men to sleep with; you know that’s a service. They will pay tax on it,” Oyedele told the congregation. “The law doesn’t ask whether your income is legitimate or not. It just asks if you have income from providing a service or good—you pay tax.”
This announcement marks a significant departure from decades of inaction, during which income from prostitution and other informal activities went untaxed. Analysts view the move as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to boost revenue amid slowing economic growth.
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The reforms will also capture income earned by social media influencers and remote workers receiving foreign payments, extending the tax net to previously untapped revenue streams.
Critics argue that while the law is sweeping, enforcement and monitoring will be challenging given the informal and sometimes clandestine nature of these activities.
Nonetheless, Oyedele emphasised the government’s commitment to applying the law uniformly to all income earners.
The New Tax Act, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in June 2025, aims to modernise Nigeria’s fiscal framework and widen the revenue base, signalling a more aggressive approach to revenue mobilisation in the coming years.
