The Lagos State Government has responded to popular TikTok creator Habeeb Hamzat, better known as Peller, after he publicly complained about receiving a ₦36 million tax bill.
Peller, a 20-year-old influencer who rose to fame in 2024, voiced his frustration during a livestream with singer Peruzzi. He questioned why he was being asked to pay such a large sum, saying:
“The task force said I should pay ₦36m in tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have anything. I only came into the limelight last year. Why should I pay ₦36m? Why will the government take money from me when it has never given me anything, not even TikTok support?”
Reacting on Tuesday, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tax and Revenue, explained that the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is an independent body responsible for assessing and issuing tax notices.
He stressed that paying tax is a civic duty, regardless of profession.
“Anybody who earns legitimately is required by Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution to declare income honestly and pay tax. While the details of this particular case need careful investigation, the principle is clear: anyone earning income must pay taxes,” Ogungbo said.
On digital creators, Ogungbo added that new reforms now cover virtual earnings and digital assets.
“Irrespective of whether you earn physically or virtually, once you reside in Lagos and benefit from the state’s infrastructure, you are expected to pay tax here, unless you can prove you are paying in another jurisdiction,” he noted.
While he promised to engage LIRS on Peller’s case for clarity, he emphasized that the tax agency operates independently. Meanwhile, the LIRS has yet to issue an official statement, and efforts to reach its Head of Corporate Communications, Monsurat Amasa, were unsuccessful as of Tuesday.
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