Pay Your Taxes, Government Needs To Make Money – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to pay taxes since the government requires funds to offer social services to citizens.

Wike spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the first Abuja Business and Investment Summit, which was organized by Abuja Investment Company Limited.

The former Rivers State governor stated that the event’s topic, ‘Optimising Investment Through Partnerships’, is consistent with the Federal Government’s desire to use collaboration to generate investment prospects.

The minister for the FCT stated that it is false to believe that the government does not require funding.

Wike stated that the government will no longer give billions of naira and land to investors who cannot ensure a return on their investment, citing instances of successful and unsuccessful partnerships between the government and the private sector.

“These are the kinds of things the government looks into and say how can I bring in the money and the land and at the end of the day, the government will not make a dime?” he said.

“When people say the government is not to make money, who told you that? If government is not to make money, how do we have money to provide services? The government needs money.

“That’s why the government say pay your tax; it’s very important. And so, while we provide the enabling environment, we also believe that we have to encourage you (investors) so that you get what you are supposed to get and the government gets what it is supposed to get. That way, everybody will go home smiling.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli