The Lagos State Government has reacted to the viral claims by popular TikTok creator, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, that he was issued a N36 million tax bill by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tax and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, said on Tuesday that the LIRS is an independent body responsible for assessing and issuing tax judgments on behalf of the government.
Peller, a 20-year-old influencer who gained popularity in 2024, had expressed outrage during a livestream with singer Peruzzi, alleging that the government asked him to pay N36m in income tax.
He argued that he had only recently come into the limelight and questioned why he should be saddled with such a huge tax bill.
“The task force said I should pay N36m in tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have anything. I only came into the limelight last year. Why should I pay N36m? Why will the government take money from me when it has never given me anything, not even TikTok support?” Peller lamented.
In response, Ogungbo said that while he would review the specifics of Peller’s case, taxation remains a civic duty for anyone earning income within Lagos State.
“Anybody who earns legitimately is required by Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution to declare their income honestly and pay tax. So while the context of the size and quantum of this particular case needs to be properly investigated, the principle remains that anyone earning must remit taxes,” he explained.
Speaking on taxation for digital creators, Ogungbo added that new reforms now cover virtual transactions and digital assets.
“Irrespective of whether you earn physically or virtually, once you reside in Lagos and benefit from the state’s infrastructure, you are expected to pay tax here, unless you can prove you are paying to another jurisdiction, for instance, maybe you’re based outside the country, you have to prove to the authority here that you were paying to the other state or other national. But if your income, which you earn here virtually or online and you stay here, and you want to do something with the Lagos State Government, then you’re bound to remit your tax here.” he said. “But I do not have this particular case on my table for me to determine. Because we have a body (the LIRS) that is autonomous and that is very efficient in what they do. So Let me investigate and revert to you.”
The Special Adviser stressed that the LIRS operates with autonomy and efficiency but promised to engage the agency on Peller’s matter before giving further clarification.
Meanwhile, the LIRS has not officially commented on the TikToker’s criticisms.
Attempts to reach the agency’s Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, on Monday and Tuesday were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
