By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has said that the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is solely responsible for tax assessments and makes the “best judgment” in such matters, amid a viral controversy involving popular TikTok influencer, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller.
Peller, a 20-year-old content creator, stirred debate last week after claiming in a livestream with singer Peruzzi that he received a demand notice of N36 million in income tax from the state government. He described the bill as excessive, questioning why he should pay such an amount when, according to him, the government had not provided him with support.
“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? What does that even mean?” Peller lamented in the video.
Reacting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Tax and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, said the case would be reviewed but stressed that anyone earning income in Lagos is obliged to pay tax.
“I need to take a look at this particular context in question. But generally, the LIRS is an autonomous body saddled with the responsibility of assessing and giving the best judgment on behalf of the government,” Ogungbo said. “Within the context of personal income, anybody who is legitimately earning, Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that when you earn your living and income legitimately, you are meant to declare that honestly to the authorities.”
On taxation for content creators and online businesses, Ogungbo explained that recent reforms now cover digital assets and virtual transactions.
“From the context of personal income tax, irrespective of whether it is earned virtually or physically, you are meant to remit your tax to the LIRS,” he said. “If you reside in Lagos and earn income here without paying tax elsewhere, you are bound to remit it in Lagos.”
Ogungbo added that while the specific details of Peller’s case were not yet before him, the LIRS remains the competent authority to address such issues.
As of press time, the LIRS had not issued an official response. Calls and messages to its Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, on Monday and Tuesday went unanswered.
