The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has emphasized that youth empowerment must be central to Nigeria’s vision for sustainable taxation and revenue growth. During a public lecture, the FIRS Executive Chairman argued that reducing youth unemployment will strengthen tax compliance and broaden the tax base over time.
He highlighted that many young people turn to informal or underground economic activities because of lack of opportunity, making them difficult to bring into tax rolls. He proposed partnerships with state governments, entrepreneurship grants, training programs, and incentives for youth businesses to comply with tax laws.
The FIRS also pledged to adopt digital platforms, ease-of-filing measures, and taxpayer education campaigns tailored to younger demographics. The lecture drew attendance from tax professionals, youth groups, and economic development agencies, all calling for a new paradigm in linking taxation with human capacity development.
