News

Pay your taxes, FG needs to make money – Wike tells Nigerians

Published

7 months ago

16 October 2024

Nosa Akenzua

Pay your taxes FG needs to make money Wike tells Nigerians — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on Nigerians to fulfill their tax obligations, stressing that the government requires funds to provide essential social services to its citizens.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during the maiden edition of the Abuja Business and Investment Summit, organized by the Abuja Investment Company Limited, Wike emphasized the importance of partnerships to boost investment.

The event’s theme, ‘Optimising Investment Through Partnerships,’ aligns with the Federal Government’s strategy to leverage collaboration to create more investment opportunities.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, debunked the misconception that the government doesn’t need financial resources.

He also highlighted past failed partnerships with private sector investors, explaining that the government can no longer commit billions of naira and land to projects that do not guarantee a return on investment.

“These are the kinds of things the government looks into and say how can I bring in the money and the land and at the end of the day, the government will not make a dime?” he said.

“When people say the government is not to make money, who told you that? If government is not to make money, how do we have money to provide services? The government needs money.

“That’s why the government say pay your tax; it’s very important. And so, while we provide the enabling environment, we also believe that we have to encourage you (investors) so that you get what you are supposed to get and the government gets what it is supposed to get. That way, everybody will go home smiling.”