The Lagos State Government has addressed the viral controversy surrounding TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, who recently alleged that he was handed a N36 million tax bill by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
Peller, a 20-year-old content creator, had taken to a livestream session with singer Tobechukwu Okoh (Peruzzi) last week, where he criticised the government over what he described as “excessive taxation.” In the viral video, he lamented:
“They said I should pay N36m in tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have anything. I only became popular last year. Why should I pay such an amount? Has the government ever given me any support, not even on TikTok?”
Reacting to the matter, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Tax and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, told the newsmen on Tuesday that the LIRS remains the body legally empowered to assess and make judgments on taxation in the state.
“I need to take a look at this particular case before giving a detailed response. But generally, the LIRS is an autonomous agency saddled with the responsibility of assessing and making the best judgment on behalf of the government,” Ogungbo explained.
He added that by law, anyone earning income within Lagos State is obligated to pay tax, citing Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“When you earn legitimately, you are meant to declare that honestly to the authorities. The size or amount in question will need to be properly investigated before any final position is taken,” he noted.
Speaking on the taxation of digital creators, Ogungbo said new reforms now cover digital assets and virtual transactions, stressing that income tax applies regardless of whether earnings are made physically or online.
“Naturally, the law allows for personal income tax. So, if you earn a living here in Lagos, whether virtually or physically you are expected to remit your tax to the LIRS. Unless there is proof that you pay tax in another jurisdiction, your earnings here are taxable,” he said.
While clarifying that he does not yet have Peller’s file before him, Ogungbo assured that the matter would be investigated, reiterating that the LIRS is efficient and autonomous in handling such issues.
As of press time, the LIRS had yet to issue an official statement on Peller’s claims. Efforts to reach its Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent on Monday and Tuesday were not returned.
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