The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has revealed that only 19 percent of Nigerians pay tax, a figure it describes as alarmingly low. To address this, the agency is now introducing tax education into school curriculums across the country.
FIRS Executive Chairman, Zacch Adedeji, made this known on Tuesday during the public presentation of a new book, Taxation: Essential Knowledge for Nigerian Children, at Merit House, Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2025 Children’s Day celebration. Adedeji was represented by his Special Adviser on Research and Statistics, Associate Professor Aisha Mahmoud Hamman.
According to Adedeji, FIRS research shows that only between 10 to 12 percent of Nigerian individuals and just 9 percent of corporate entities pay tax. He described the figures as “abysmally low” compared to other African countries like South Africa and Egypt, where tax compliance is much higher.
“We discovered through our studies that there is a direct link between tax education and compliance. That’s why we are supporting this book. Educating children about taxes will help build a generation of responsible citizens who understand their civic duties,” he said.
Adedeji highlighted that instilling tax knowledge early in life is more effective than trying to reform adults who avoid taxes. He added that teaching taxation in primary and secondary schools will prepare students to understand how taxes work long before they reach adulthood.
The co-author of the book, Arabinrin Aderonke Bello, who is also the FIRS Technical Adviser on Broadcast Media, explained that the aim is to bridge the communication gap around taxation by reaching children early.
“Children are our future. We want them to understand that the roads they use, the schools they attend, and the hospitals they go to are funded through taxes,” she said.
Bello said over 50,000 copies of the book have already been printed and will be distributed free to primary and secondary schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Former FIRS Chairman, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, who also spoke at the event, called for transparency in the use of tax revenue.
“Tax is meant for the development of the country. It must be used for the purpose it is collected,” she said.
