By: Amb Mrs Amaka Nweke
The claim that “no tax is the solution” sounds sweet, but it is dangerous economics and bad governance. It is not compassion. It is propaganda designed to make citizens believe development can happen without their contribution.
Let’s deal with facts, not emotions.
*1. THE 12.6% FIGURE DOES NOT MEAN CITIZENS ARE OVER-TAXED. IT MEANS WE ARE UNDER-TAXED*
The writer proudly says Enugu generated ₦406.77bn IGR in 2025, but only ₦51.5bn — 12.6% — came from tax.
That is not proof that tax is too much. That is proof that our tax base is too narrow.
Compare globally:
- *Lagos State 2024 IGR*: ₦1.3 Trillion. Over 80% came from taxes
- *OECD Average*: 34% of GDP comes from tax
- *South Africa*: 25% of GDP comes from tax
Even with our ₦406bn IGR, Enugu’s tax-to-GDP ratio is still one of the lowest in Nigeria. The problem is not that citizens are paying too much. The problem is that too few people and businesses are in the tax net.
*2. NON-TAX REVENUE IS NOT "FREE MONEY". IT IS STILL YOUR MONEY*
The ₦355.2bn "non-tax" revenue they are celebrating comes from:
Sale of government assets, investment income, fines, fees, PPPs, and FAAC allocations.
But FAAC itself is 70% oil and company taxes collected by FG. Investment income comes from businesses that paid tax. Asset sales are one-time. You cannot sell government land every year to build roads.
If we depend only on non-tax revenue, what happens when oil crashes or assets finish? The state will collapse. Sustainable development is funded by sustainable taxation.
*3. "NO TAX" MEANS "NO ROADS, NO SCHOOLS, NO HOSPITALS"*
Every developed country taxes its citizens. It is the social contract.
- USA: Federal + State + Local taxes
- UK: PAYE, VAT, Council Tax
- Ghana: VAT 12.5%, Income Tax
- Rwanda: Used tax revenue to become Africa’s cleanest, safest country
Tax is not what makes people poor. Corruption, multiple illegal levies, and lack of accountability make people poor. The solution is *tax reform, not tax removal*.
Governor Peter Mbah’s administration has already started this: harmonizing levies, digitizing collection, and blocking leakages. That is exactly what kills “tax oppression”.
*4. THE REAL ISSUE IS MULTIPLE ILLEGAL LEVIES, NOT LEGAL TAX*
No serious government supports harassment of traders. But to throw away legal, constitutional tax because of illegal touts is like burning the house to kill a rat.
What citizens should demand is:
1. *One government, one payment* - via harmonized digital platform
2. *Accountability* - publish what tax is used for: schools, hospitals, roads
3. *Protect MSMEs* - tax exemptions for businesses under a threshold
That is responsible taxation. "No tax" is irresponsible.
*CONCLUSION*
Saying citizens cannot contribute to the development of their own state is to treat Enugu people like children.
The slogan should not be “No Tax”. The slogan should be:
*“No Illegal Levies. No Waste. Tax With Results.”*
You cannot build a $30bn Enugu economy on asset sales and FAAC alone. Citizens, businesses and government must all contribute. That is how Lagos did it. That is how Rwanda did it. That is how Enugu will do it.
Tax is not oppression. Tax is ownership. Tax is pride. Tax is development.
Amb. Mrs Amaka Nweke
