President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to embrace tax payment as a civic responsibility necessary for national development, stressing that citizens cannot demand better infrastructure and public services without contributing through taxes.

Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, President Tinubu said taxation remains critical to funding roads, hospitals, education, research, and social welfare programmes. He noted that while many people dislike paying taxes, governments cannot function effectively without adequate revenue generation.

The President also defended his administration’s economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification, describing them as painful but necessary steps to stabilise Nigeria’s economy and prevent fiscal collapse.

Tinubu maintained that the reforms are beginning to yield positive results, adding that a stable and predictable economy would create better opportunities for investment, growth, and national prosperity.