Peller Dey Wonda: Why Dem Go Charge Taxes Whey Heavy Like Dis?

Lagos, Nigeria – Wahala don burst as TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, wey dem sabi as Peller, don dey lament over one gbege tax bill wey reach N36 million! E don turn matter for social media as he dey ask why dem go charge am that kain money wey fit buy a small house.

Last week, during one live video wey he host with singer Peruzzi, Peller show everybody say government don slack am with this tax wahala: “I swear to Almighty Allah, I no get anything. I only come limelight last year. Wetin I go do with dis N36m tax?” Im dey reason am as he try understand why government no fit support him, even if na small, for the adventure wey dem dey ask am to pay tax for.

As wahala dey grow, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, wey be Special Adviser to the Governor on Tax and Revenue, respond to Peller matter, but no confirm say dem go chop Peller money. Ogungbo yan, “We go check the issue later but anybody wey dey earn inside Lagos, e go pay tax. Na wetin the law dey say. But we go look into this Peller matter properly, no worry.” (E no wan put mouth for matter wey no concern am, if you ask me).

Ogungbo don add say dem dey reform laws wey concern digital assets and virtual transactions. He reason am like dis, “No matter wether na online or offline, if you earn your money honestly, you must pay tax. If you dey live for Lagos and you dey do business wey dey generate income, na you go pay tax for the state.” Na gbege if you dey try dodge tax o. (Catch your breath and pay your dues, no be so?)

As the tension dey rise, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) never talk anything about Peller side of the story. Even their head of corporate communications, Monsurat Amasa no fit pick up the calls or respond to text messages as reporters try find out wetin dey happen.

Peller don gather fans wey dey wonder how e go survive this one. With comedian and influencers wey dey suffer the same tax pressure, no be small drama dey unfold for the social media scene. This na the second time wey taxation don enter the gossip circle, as more content creators dey raise voice against wetin dem see as ‘excessive demands’ from government.

For Lagos, we sabi say tax na real matter. But the approach to dem taxes go need to dey light, especially if dem wan make sure say these young creators fit thrive and create more content without looking over dem shoulders for tax collectors. Hope di government go fit find way to balance this tax matter for the sake of creativity, wey dey grow for di social media side.