FG Tax Reforms Chairman: “Income Earned from Any Service, Even Runs Girls, Is Taxable”

Prof. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Federal Government Tax Reforms Committee, has reiterated that anyone earning income from providing a service is liable to pay tax, regardless of whether the activity is considered legal or informal.

Speaking on taxation principles, Prof. Oyedele explained that the law focuses on income, not the legitimacy of the work generating it. He emphasized that money given as gifts or for non-exchange purposes, such as supporting family members, remains exempt from taxation.

“If the amount you’re giving someone is a gift or for personal support, and not because they provided a service, it is not taxable,” he clarified.

However, he stressed that income from providing a service—including unconventional or informal work—is taxable. Using a candid example, he said, “If someone is rendering a service, even extreme cases like runs girls, the tax law does not differentiate. The focus is on whether there’s income from providing a service or good. That income is subject to tax.”

Prof. Oyedele further reassured that recipients of gifts or upkeep payments remain exempt from taxes, saying, “If you earn money and send it to a cousin, sibling, or even a stranger as a gift, that’s a non-exchange transaction. It’s not taxable. But if someone is renting out a service, that income is taxable—no exceptions.”

The statement has sparked conversations online about the scope of taxation and the government’s efforts to ensure compliance across all sectors, including informal and unconventional services.