Lagos Tax Surge Rooted in Tinubu’s Early Reforms — LIRS Chief

At a gathering of Nigeria’s top revenue administrators in Lagos, the Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Ayodele Subair, traced the state’s surging tax performance to a bold policy decision made decades ago.

Addressing participants at the close of the 159th Joint Revenue Board meeting, Subair pointed to reforms introduced during the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the turning point in Lagos’ fiscal journey. Central to that shift, he explained, was granting autonomy to the state’s revenue agency—an institutional change that redefined how taxes were assessed, collected, and managed.

That move, according to Subair, did more than boost internally generated revenue; it created a blueprint that other states have since adopted. He noted that successive governments have refined and expanded the system, ensuring sustained growth while improving efficiency and accountability.

Beyond the numbers, Subair linked the state’s tax success to tangible development across sectors. From expanding transport systems to upgrades in housing, education, and urban renewal, he highlighted projects under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as visible proof of how public funds are being deployed. Rail projects, improved road networks, and evolving water transport systems, he said, are all tied to a stronger tax culture.

He also underscored a shift in public attitude, noting that more residents are willingly meeting their tax obligations because they can see real outcomes. This growing transparency, he added, has deepened trust and positioned Lagos ahead of many other states in revenue generation.

Subair closed with a clear message: the state’s development momentum hinges on continued taxpayer participation, reinforcing the link between civic responsibility and economic progress.