The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has highlighted that Nigerians are more willing to pay taxes when they see their contributions used effectively.
Speaking on the importance of government accountability, Wike noted that citizens tend to comply with tax obligations when they perceive tangible benefits and development from their payments.
However, he acknowledged that reluctance arises when taxes appear misused or wasted. Wike’s statement emphasizes the link between transparency in public spending and improved tax compliance across the country.
Speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting the emergency construction of a 5-kilometer Kuje township road from the Garage Junction to the LEA Secretariat within the Kuje Area Council, amongst others, the minister said that his government relied mainly on Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) and also applies prudence in the utilization of available resources for the ongoing projects.
“It’s a matter of strategy and being prudent with the available resources.
“We are trying as much as possible to continue increasing our IGR. We are using our IGR to pay. “There is no other money coming from anywhere.
“And again, we restrict the number of projects and ensure that we have gone far before awarding other projects and that the funding is available so that it will not be an abandoned project or projects.
“So, it’s not that we have so much money. It’s just that we are trying to prudently manage what we have and apply it in the best interest of our people.”