President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace tax payment and patronise locally made goods, stressing that the nation’s survival and development depend on shared responsibility.
In his nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, Tinubu acknowledged the hardship caused by recent reforms but insisted that collective sacrifice is vital for progress.
“Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our land, build factories to process our produce, and patronise Made-in-Nigeria goods.
I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes,” the president declared.
Economic reforms and early gains
Tinubu highlighted his administration’s policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, foreign exchange reforms, and efforts to diversify away from oil dependence.
According to him, inflation has fallen to its lowest point in three years, while Nigeria’s external reserves have risen above $42 billion.
He added that the country’s tax-to-GDP ratio has climbed from less than 10 percent to 13.5 percent, describing the improvement as a step toward fiscal stability.
New tax laws, set to take effect in January 2026, will expand the tax base while offering relief to low-income earners.
The president framed tax compliance as a patriotic duty.
“We must build the roads we need, repair decrepit ones, and construct schools and hospitals. We lack enough electricity today because we failed to invest decades ago.
Now, we must all contribute our quota. That is why I call on Nigerians: let us pay our taxes,” Tinubu said.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that the government would implement four new tax laws from January 2026.
Dubbed the Tax Acts Quartet, the reforms are designed to expand Nigeria’s revenue base while easing the burden on citizens.
Idris described the reforms as part of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “President Tinubu is dismantling stubborn obstacles to national progress.
Under the Eight Priority Areas, his government is laying the foundation for prosperity, peace, and unity.
At this point, our collective participation in nation-building is critical to sustaining the progress being made,” he said.
The president’s 65th Independence Day address marked his third such broadcast since assuming office in May 2023.