President Bola Tinubu’s chief tax official, Taiwo Oyedele, recently stated that all Nigerians, including women involved in prostitution, often referred to as “runs,” are mandated to pay tax.

Mr. Oyedele, who leads the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policies and Reforms, recently spoke to members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Lagos about new tax laws. He explained that the new tax legislation does not distinguish between money earned legally and money earned from illegal activities.

He revealed that the government plans to tax all services that people get paid for, which even includes sex work. Mr. Oyedele pointed out, “If someone is offering companionship through sex work, that counts as a service, and they will be taxed for it.”

He emphasized that under this new law, all types of income are taxable, regardless of whether the money comes from legitimate jobs or not. He stated, “The key point about this tax law is that it doesn’t care if the activity is legal or illegal. It simply asks if you made money by providing a service or selling something. If you did, you need to pay taxes on it.”

For many years, the government has allowed prostitution and different sexual activities to operate without any control or taxes. However, Mr. Tinubu’s government seems prepared to explore every possible way to raise money for Nigeria’s struggling economy.

The New Tax Act will focus on social media influencers and remote workers who make money in foreign currencies.