President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to embrace tax payment as a critical responsibility necessary for national growth and sustainable development.

Speaking on Friday during the Africa CEO Forum held in Kigali, the President said many citizens demand improved infrastructure and public services while failing to contribute through taxes.

According to Tinubu, taxation remains essential for governments to provide services such as healthcare, roads, social support programmes, and investments in research and development. He noted that although taxation is unpopular across all social classes, it remains the backbone of economic development.

The President stressed that paying taxes is part of responsible citizenship, adding that both individuals and corporate organisations have obligations to contribute to national development through tax compliance.

Tinubu also used the occasion to defend his administration’s economic reforms, describing them as difficult but unavoidable steps aimed at stabilising Nigeria’s economy. He argued that the country could no longer sustain policies such as fuel subsidies, which he said encouraged corruption, smuggling, and financial leakages.

According to him, continuing subsidy payments under current global economic realities would have further weakened the nation’s finances and delayed economic recovery efforts.

The President further revealed that several states had struggled to meet salary obligations before the reforms, questioning the sustainability of a system where many subnational governments were unable to function effectively without federal support.

While acknowledging the hardship associated with the reforms, Tinubu maintained that the measures would eventually produce long-term benefits for the country. He expressed optimism that Nigerians would ultimately see positive outcomes from the economic adjustments being implemented by his administration.