Lagos Government Responds to Peller’s ₦36m Tax Complaint: “All Income Earners Must Pay”
The Lagos State Government has officially responded to the viral outcry of popular TikTok creator, Habeeb Hamzat, aka Peller, who claimed he was slammed with a ₦36 million tax bill by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Peller, a 20-year-old content creator who gained widespread attention in 2024, sparked public debate after revealing during a livestream with singer Peruzzi that the state demanded an amount he described as outrageous.
“They said I should pay ₦36m tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have that kind of money. I only started making a name for myself last year. Why should I pay ₦36m? The government has never given me anything, not even TikTok support,” Peller lamented.
Reacting to the controversy on Tuesday, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tax and Revenue, stated that taxation is a civic duty for anyone earning income within the state, whether through physical or online channels.
“Anybody who earns legitimately is required by Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution to declare their income honestly and pay tax. While we still need to investigate the details of this specific case, the principle is clear: if you earn, you must remit taxes,” Ogungbo said.
He further explained that new tax reforms in Lagos now cover digital creators, online influencers, and virtual transactions.
“Whether you earn physically or virtually, as long as you reside in Lagos and enjoy the state’s infrastructure, you are expected to pay your tax here—unless you can prove you are paying in another jurisdiction,” he added.
Ogungbo noted that the LIRS operates independently, assessing and issuing tax notices on behalf of the government. He, however, promised to engage with the agency to clarify Peller’s case before issuing an official position.
As of now, the LIRS has not released a formal statement on the matter, and attempts to reach its Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.