A coalition of Nigeria, international civil society organisations and trade unions have launched the #PayTax4Wetin campaign.
They called on the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria’s new tax reforms are implemented transparently and that additional revenue generated is invested in quality public services.
The campaign was unveiled on Thursday at the end of the Policy Dialogue on Funding Quality Public Services to Build Trust in Nigeria’s Tax Laws held in Abuja.
The coalition said the four tax reform laws that came into effect in January 2026 present an opportunity to improve domestic revenue mobilisation, strengthen tax administration.
According to the coalition, the reforms include provisions to strengthen corporate income taxation, expand the taxation of foreign companies through the Significant Economic Presence framework, and implement a minimum effective corporate tax rate of 15 per cent for large multinational enterprises.
The coalition said more work was needed to ensure that multinational corporations and those with greater ability to pay contribute their fair share of taxes.
They also urged governments at the federal, state, and local levels to publish regular information on projected and actual tax revenues, compliance rates, tax incentives, and exemptions to enable citizens to monitor implementation and hold public institutions accountable.
The coalition further called for the establishment of an adequately resourced and independent Tax Ombuds Office, alongside broader citizen participation in tax policy and administration.
On digital taxation, they urged the government to develop and publish a practical implementation plan for taxing digital services and to disclose revenue collected from operators in the digital economy.
They argued that strengthening corporate taxation is essential because indirect taxes are often passed on to consumers, while corporate income taxes are borne by companies and their shareholders.
The coalition also called on the government to strengthen measures against transfer mispricing and ensure multinational enterprises pay at least the 15 per cent minimum effective tax rate, while working towards a higher corporate tax rate over time.
Beyond tax collection, the organisations stressed that increased government revenue should translate into improved public services.
They expressed concerns that many Nigerians continue to pay out of pocket for healthcare, education, water, transport, and electricity despite paying taxes.
Citing the World Health Organisation’s Global Health Expenditure Database, the coalition noted that out-of-pocket spending accounted for more than three-quarters of Nigeria’s total health expenditure in 2023.
They also pointed to declining government spending on education, noting that the sector’s share of public expenditure had fallen significantly in recent years.
The coalition urged the Federal Government to protect spending on education, healthcare, water, and energy from being crowded out by debt servicing.
The coalition also called for increased investment in schools and hospitals, expanded health insurance coverage, improved access to reliable electricity and clean water, and greater transparency in how public funds are allocated and spent.
According to the coalition, effective tax collection should not only increase government revenue but also create jobs, reduce poverty, strengthen businesses, improve opportunities for young people, empower women, enhance food security, and restore public confidence in government.
They said the campaign would advocate for stronger taxation of multinational corporations and high-net-worth individuals while pushing for tax revenues to be translated into visible improvements in education, healthcare, public infrastructure, and other essential services.
The coalition comprises of the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR), the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Connected Development (CODE) and Gatefield.
