- The co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill Gates got dragged on social media for saying tax collection in Nigeria is low
- He said this during his speech at the Pan-African Youth Dialogue on Nutrition at Abuja
- Nigerians reacted to his comments, some told him to mind his business
The Co-founder of Microsoft and co-chairman of Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill Gates, has come under fire on social media for saying tax collection in Nigeria is low.
The billionaire said this at the Nutrivision 2024, a Pan-African Youth Dialogue on Nutrition at Nile University Abuja on Tuesday, September 3.
Gates said for citizens to gain confidence in the government’s ability to deliver quality healthcare and education, there must be a commitment to ensure that the funding of health programmes is well-managed.
In his words: “Over time, there are plans for Nigeria to fund the government more than it does today. The actual tax collection in Nigeria is actually pretty low.
“If citizens want the education and the health things, as they develop the confidence that these programmes can be very well run, and our foundation is involved with a lot of the exemplars that are showing the way in terms of making sure the money is spent really well, running a very efficient primary health care system where the employees are doing great work, the centres are where they should be, you don’t have underloaded centres or overloaded centres.
“It’s exciting that we are driving the credibility of those health programmes and so that the citizens will feel like primary health care is amongst the priorities that should be very funded as you get some fiscal flexibility.”
Many Nigerians have hurled insults at the business magnate, calling him unprintable names. Some Nigerians said citizens can’t pay more taxes because Nigerians are already struggling with the conduction of the economy. Others believe the government would just have more money to embezzle when Nigerians pay more taxes.
Nigerians react to Bill Gates’ comment
Many Nigerians have insulted the American business magnate. Some people believe Bill Gates should mind his business and not interfere in matters that do not concern him. Others said even if Nigerians pay more taxes, the government will not use it as they should.
Here are some of the comments:
@OnePuckett posted: “Bill Gates should shut tf up, does he see Nigerians don't really benefit from the govt, social and economic amenities, yet he's talking about taxing people and businesses that are already struggling to survive because of bad economic policies, business environment & high cost of running businesses.”
@Onyenazumu posted: “This man has an agenda against the people . He wants government to increase taxes on Nigerians that are barely surviving on his "aides" and "interventions". Evil has never been more aptly defined.”
@LuckyGoldx posted: “..this is clearly none of his business, he should learn to mind his business and face his country.”
@napuputhoughts posted: “Mind your business. Nigeria doesn't even deserve taxes from the citizens. The leadership is so irresponsible. Every economy deserves the collaborative efforts of both the government and her citizenry. Not the monkey dey work, baboon dey chop situation in Nigeria.”
@flourish007 posted: “Wrong.You can't tax the unemployed or those earning a minimum wage of 70k. Considering the number of working Nigerians, and with electricity tariffs and fuel prices already straining citizens, it's not feasible.”
@wayas_opinion posted: “Yes the tax is very low, But its good for businesses and salary earners. Our politicians will just increase their salaries and not use it for us, then borrow more foreign money. Other countries pay more but atleast they benefit from it. It should mind its business.”
@DanKatsina50 posted: “The man don’t understand that the problem is not about the tax collection but the tax collectors. Do they remit the tax appropriately to the government’s account?”
@Sirkay3024 posted: “Of course, they will not see the cost of living or the minimum wage. Oyibo influence in the guise of helping us. Thank you Bill Gates.”
@abdullahiajao1 posted: “The people are hungry: It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes.”
@AfrokonnectNG posted: “So many people don’t even pay taxes in Nigeria. There’s no structure in place how do you know it’s too low.”
@qupiid_ posted: “Pls pls mind your business. Our country is not developed and organized like yours.... The tax are for the leaders, the citizens do not benefit from it.”
@ucheezerioha posted: “This is how they indirectly steer up public unrest. They will give dubious gifts then advise the govt to raise taxes and then people will revolt. They will supply arms to quell the rebellion and then pocket the govt who becomes their puppet. It’s a well known circle already.”
@Emmanue81303405 posted: “In one breath, if he is advocating for higher taxes, am not on his side but if he is saying that collection of taxes overall is low then am on his side. A lot of people evade taxes especially the affluent.”
Tinubu’s tax committee wants food, house rents, public transportation, others to be tax-free
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Taiwo Oyedele, the chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, said President Bola Tinubu will soon sign the committee’s proposal to the Federal Government for the removal of taxes on food, public transportation, house rents, health and education, which are basic necessities.
Oyedele disclosed this while appearing as a guest on Channels TV’s programme, Politics Today, on Monday, September 3 and said the committee’s proposal includes the exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on the basic necessities.