The Federal Government has announced that commercial sex workers, popularly referred to as “runs girls”, will be required to pay tax under Nigeria’s new fiscal policy measures.Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this in a recent briefing, stating that no segment of the informal economy will be exempted from taxation.
Oyedele explained that the move is part of efforts to widen Nigeria’s tax net, ensure fairness, and increase government revenue. He stressed that individuals engaged in sex work earn income and, like every other worker or entrepreneur, are expected to contribute to the nation’s tax system.“This is not about morality but about law and fairness,” Oyedele noted, adding that the government intends to create a simplified system that makes it easy for people in the informal sector to comply.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some questioning the practicality of taxing commercial sex workers, while others argue that all income-generating activities should be taxed to boost national revenue.