Only 10–19% of Nigerians pay tax — FIRS

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revealed that just 10–19% of Nigerians pay taxes — a figure among the lowest in Africa — and is now turning to children in a long-term effort to reverse the trend.

At the public launch of a new book titled “Taxation Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children” in Abuja, FIRS Chairman Dr. Zacch Adedeji (represented by Aisha Hamman, Special Adviser on Research and Statistics) said internal and external studies show that early tax education is key to improving compliance.

“When children grow up understanding taxes, they grow up demanding transparency. And that’s a win for both governance and development,” Adedeji stated.

The book, co-authored by Arabirin Atoyebi, FIRS Chairman’s Technical Assistant on Broadcast Media, simplifies tax concepts with cartoons and relatable stories. Over 60,000 copies have been printed for free distribution to schools and learning centres nationwide, with plans to scale.

FIRS is using this initiative to help meet its ₦20 trillion revenue target for 2025, alongside ongoing tax reforms and citizen engagement.

“Most adults avoid taxes because they don’t understand them. This book fills that gap early and makes learning about taxes fun,” Atoyebi added.

Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, MD of Sprezzatura Publishing, said the book fills a longstanding educational void. “We never had tax education materials as kids — this is a game changer.”