Peller Slams ₦36 Million Lagos Tax Demand, Says “Government Never Gave Me Anything”
Popular TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, widely known as Peller, has reacted with disbelief after receiving a ₦36 million tax bill from the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). Speaking during a livestream with Nigerian singer Peruzzi, Peller questioned the basis for such a demand, especially given that he only gained national fame in the past year. He stressed that he has never received any form of assistance or incentive from the government.
“The task force said I should pay ₦36 million for tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have anything. I only came into the limelight last year,” Peller lamented. “Why should I pay ₦36 million? What does that even mean? Why will the government take money from me when it has never given me anything — not even TikTok support, let alone help from a task force member?” His remarks have since sparked discussions online, with many debating the fairness of such a steep tax assessment for digital content creators.
Responding during the livestream, Peruzzi reminded Peller that paying taxes is a legal obligation, irrespective of whether one has received government support. He disclosed that his own tax payments surpass what Peller has been asked to pay and cautioned that ignoring the tax bill could lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment. The exchange has reignited conversations about how Nigeria’s tax system treats social media influencers and whether sudden, high-value tax demands are reasonable for relatively new public figures.
