₦airaland Forum

The whole point of taxation is simple: the government takes from citizens to make life easier for them. That’s the deal.

But welcome to Nigeria, the only country where you dig your own borehole, buy your own generator, hire your own security and then still pay taxes so politicians can loot in peace, guard themselves with armed convoys, and unleash the police on you whenever you complain. Here, tax isn’t a social contract; it’s a weapon of mass suffering.

In developed countries, you see it clearly. In the UK for instance, taxes give you the NHS: free or affordable healthcare, structured education, pensions for the elderly, housing benefits, child support, maternity and paternity leave. Even newborn babies are not left behind, the system makes sure every child has a fair start in life.

In the U.S., the same principle applies. I remember when my sister, a U.S. citizen, gave birth, the government sent her a package so loaded with food, formula, and supplies that she had more than enough. She even sent the excess to us. Imagine that; a government sending baby food across borders because it gave its citizens too much.

In Scandinavia, the story is even crazier: monthly child benefits roll in until your child grows up, and the elderly live with dignity, not as abandoned beggars. That’s what tax is meant for: protection, dignity, fairness.

Now shift the camera to Nigeria. Here, citizens are their own government. You dig your own borehole for water. You buy your own generator and solar for electricity. You repair your own road if you want to drive without sinking into craters. Your safety? Directly tied to how much money you can pay vigilantes or private guards.

In Nigeria, governance has been fully outsourced to the citizen. Survival is DIY.

And despite all this madness, the same irresponsible government has the audacity, no, the boldness to tax the people.

But it doesn’t end there. They borrow recklessly, steal the loans through bloated contracts and phantom projects, and then tax the same citizens to pay back the stolen loans. It’s like a thief robbing you at gunpoint, then sending you a bill for the bullets.

And let’s not forget security. Citizens pay taxes to equip police, military forces and the DSS, hoping for protection. What do they get in return? Nothing!!!! Instead, the politicians hijack those forces for themselves. Armored convoys of security men guard them in luxury while ordinary Nigerians are butchered by bandits, kidnapped on highways, and left to their fate. And when the same citizens dare to protest, those very security forces, paid for by the taxpayers are unleashed to beat, harass, and kill them.

Think about it: you are literally funding your own oppression.

Meanwhile, the government slashed the real value of minimum wage from over $100 to $46 and still insists on taxing even that crumbs.

They killed fuel subsidy, threw millions deeper into poverty, and then returned with a new trick: taxing fuel directly.

Maybe they felt the pain wasn’t sharp enough, so they turned the knife, just to make sure everyone bleeds.

And then there are the defenders, the tragic comedy of Nigerian politics. Some people still clap for this government, blinded by ethnicity or religion. Others do it for peanuts; the infamous ₦30k monthly stipends that breed keyboard warriors. These ones defend poverty online, shouting praises for the same politicians who have secured luxury for their fifth generation. Ironically, these praise-singers cannot even afford to put their children in good schools. Which means their unborn generations will remain slaves to the children of the very politicians they worship today.

Generational slavery, sponsored by loyalty and ₦30k.

This is Nigeria’s tax story; a government that borrows in billions, loots in trillions, taxes in desperation, and delivers in suffering. A government that feeds fat while the people starve. A government that uses the people’s money to arm the security forces, not to protect the people, but to guard its own palaces and silence its critics.

That’s not governance. That’s organized wickedness in agbada.

Until Nigerians stop excusing evil because of crumbs, fear, and tribal sentiments, the cycle will never end. And the tragedy is, the receipt for this wickedness will always carry one word printed at the top: TAX.

[b]And then there are the defenders, the tragic comedy of Nigerian politics. Some people still clap for this government, blinded by ethnicity or religion. Others do it for peanuts; the infamous ₦30k monthly stipends that breed keyboard warriors. These ones defend poverty online, shouting praises for the same politicians who have secured luxury for their fifth generation. Ironically, these praise-singers cannot even afford to put their children in good schools. Which means their unborn generations will remain slaves to the children of the very politicians they worship today.

Generational slavery, sponsored by loyalty and ₦30k.

This is Nigeria’s tax story; a government that borrows in billions, loots in trillions, taxes in desperation, and delivers in suffering. A government that feeds fat while the people starve. A government that uses the people’s money to arm the security forces, not to protect the people, but to guard its own palaces and silence its critics.

That’s not governance. That’s organized wickedness in agbada.

Until Nigerians stop excusing evil because of crumbs, fear, and tribal sentiments, the cycle will never end. And the tragedy is, the receipt for this wickedness will always carry one word printed at the top: TAX.[/b]


Could not have said it any better. Its the sad reality in Nigeria today,

Owombakara:
[b]And then there are the defenders, the tragic comedy of Nigerian politics. Some people still clap for this government, blinded by ethnicity or religion. Others do it for peanuts; the infamous ₦30k monthly stipends that breed keyboard warriors. These ones defend poverty online, shouting praises for the same politicians who have secured luxury for their fifth generation. Ironically, these praise-singers cannot even afford to put their children in good schools. Which means their unborn generations will remain slaves to the children of the very politicians they worship today.

Generational slavery, sponsored by loyalty and ₦30k.

This is Nigeria’s tax story; a government that borrows in billions, loots in trillions, taxes in desperation, and delivers in suffering. A government that feeds fat while the people starve. A government that uses the people’s money to arm the security forces, not to protect the people, but to guard its own palaces and silence its critics.

That’s not governance. That’s organized wickedness in agbada.

Until Nigerians stop excusing evil because of crumbs, fear, and tribal sentiments, the cycle will never end. And the tragedy is, the receipt for this wickedness will always carry one word printed at the top: TAX.[/b]


Could not have said it any better. Its the sad reality in Nigeria today,

Last night, I sat down reflecting on Nigeria and the bizarre way some Nigerians reason. The more I thought, the angrier I became, until I had to pour it out in writing. Tell me, what could be harder than sharing a country with people who act like they’ve been bewitched, hypnotized, and stripped of common sense, yet they wear their delusion like a badge of honor? They come online and start defending nonsense. Ask them to mention one thing that this government has done to make life better and easier for them, they’ll start calling you Ibo and all sorts.

Stop accepting peanuts from politicians during elections. Bring in credible leaders, vote out irresponsible government that doesn't care about its people.

Y'all should calm down, Nigerians have 400 more years to suffer before being wiped out. Both the people and their leaders are very dumb. I don't pity any of them.

Jokerman:
Stop accepting peanuts from politicians during elections. Bring in credible leaders, vote out irresponsible government that doesn't care about its people.

I pray they don’t regard your message as another Igbo ranting. I’m tired honestly.

Nigerians have no idea of the hidden traps buried inside this new tax system. Trust Tinubu at your own peril. Isn’t this the same government that paraded the so-called Fresh Order Book (actually the Freight On Board, FOB, valuation policy) as a masterstroke to reduce import duties? Yet when the policy landed, it slyly added an extra 4% to clearing costs. If you still believe the same man who once staged a circus of fake bishops during campaigns just to fool the public, maybe it’s time you reassessed your mind.

ibabz:
Last night, I sat down reflecting on Nigeria and the bizarre way some Nigerians reason. The more I thought, the angrier I became, until I had to pour it out in writing. Tell me, what could be harder than sharing a country with people who act like they’ve been bewitched, hypnotized, and stripped of common sense, yet they wear their delusion like a badge of honor? They come online and start defending nonsense. Ask them to mention one thing that this government has done to make life better and easier for them, they’ll start calling you Ibo and all sorts.

You are definitely on point Bro. It's like majority of Nigerians are bewitched! Because nothing makes sense when the oppressed are the same people defending the oppressor just because of pecuniary benefits. The good thing is that the current govt is pushing the masses to the brink with its rubbish polices. Hopefully, the suffering masses will wake up in time to demand a change in the next election cycle.