The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that under its newly reformed tax laws, all forms of income will be subject to taxation, including money earned by commercial sex workers, popularly referred to as “runs girls.”
The clarification was given by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, during an engagement session at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David in Lagos on Sunday September 28, 2025.
A video of his remarks was posted on X by Vanguard Nigeria on September 30, 2025.
According to Oyedele, the new system does not distinguish between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” sources of income. What matters, he said, is whether a person earns money by providing a service or selling a product.
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“If somebody is doing ‘runs girls’ (sex work), right, they go and look for men to sleep with. You know that’s a service. They will pay tax on it,” he explained.
Breaking down his point further, Oyedele said the law is designed to ensure fairness and expand Nigeria’s tax net.
“It just asks you whether you have an income. Did you get it from rendering a service or providing a good? Then you pay tax. If you earn a certain amount of money and you have to send upkeep to your cousin, your brother, or even a stranger, it doesn’t really matter.
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“If the amount you are sending is money you are giving them not because they have done something for you, then it is a gift. We call it a non-exchange transaction. That is not taxable,” he added.
Runs girls will pay tax – Taiwo Oyedele
Credit: X// Bond_not_james pic.twitter.com/2hlykj680U
— Vanguard Newspapers (@vanguardngrnews) September 30, 2025
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