From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership, Ms Rinsola Abiola, has said that the tax reforms driven by President Bola Tinubu were focused on empowering, supporting and building a better economic future for young Nigerians to thrive.
Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zach Adedeji, also urged youths to be more involved in tax matters in order to have a clear understanding of how it works and the benefits they stand to derive from taxation.
The duo spoke at a youth and tax town hall meeting jointly organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Citizenship and Leadership (OSSAP-CL) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
In her welcome address, Ms. Abiola assured that Nigeria’s proposed tax reforms were not just about revenue collection but also about opportunity, empowerment and national inclusion.
“A lot has been said about the proposed tax reforms and I wish to assure everyone present here today, and indeed, all other young people across the country, that these reforms have been crafted with the best interests of young people at heart, whether as professionals and salary earners or as business owners,” she stated.
Abiola emphasised that young people are no longer the leaders of tomorrow but active participants in shaping economic policies today. She listed advocacy, innovation, entrepreneurship and policy engagement as key avenues through which youths can influence Nigeria’s tax landscape.
“By fostering entrepreneurship and job creation, young people contribute to expanding the tax base and generating revenue for national development,” she said.
The presidential aide highlighted the Tinubu administration’s efforts to support the youth, including funding for startups, digital skills training and reforms aimed at easing the cost of doing business.
“The Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu recognises the immense potential of the youth and is actively working to empower them. Tinubu is a leader who listens and cares genuinely about the youth,” she noted.
On his part, the FIRS chairman, in a keynote address, noted that building a culture of voluntary tax compliance lies in engaging Nigeria’s young majority, who make up over 60 percent of the population.
“Taxation is both a fiscal tool and a social contract,” Adedeji, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Research and Statistics, Associate Prof. Aisha Mahmoud Haman, said.
“It is the foundation of public trust and the most sustainable means by which governments meet their obligations to the people.”
He acknowledged the longstanding public perception of taxation as a burden, but said the FIRS was actively working to rebuild that relationship. “Our role at the Federal Inland Revenue Service is not simply to collect taxes but to build a culture of voluntary compliance, transparency, accountability and most crucially, inclusion.
“If we harness this energy productively, Nigeria can become one of the most competitive economies in the world. But, if we ignore it, we risk deepening economic exclusion, unemployment and social tension.”
He unveiled several youth-focused initiatives, including the Young Tax Champions Programme, designed to recruit students and young graduates as ambassadors of tax education across the country. “This is about turning every youth into a tax expert, and about cultivating a generation that values civic responsibility and economic participation,” he said.
“The goal is not to burden young entrepreneurs with taxes they cannot afford, but to bring them into a system that supports their growth. This means providing incentives, simplifying tax processes and linking compliance with access to credit, business support and government services.
“Tax education must begin early starting from our primary and secondary schools, our universities, and even in our vocational institutions.
“Our young people must understand how tax works, why it matters, and how it affects their daily lives.
“You are the present and future of tax administration in Nigeria. We must build together a society where every citizen contributes fairly, benefits equitably and feels a shared sense of ownership in the destiny of our great nation,” he stated.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya; the Director, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre, Mr. Soji Enyiade, Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) represented by Deputy Director, Yinka Fisher and the Deputy Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by the Deputy Director, Youth Engagement and Inclusion.