‘Yahoo boys, runs girls’ to pay tax from 2026 – FG

The Federal Government has clarified that every form of income generated within the country is subject to taxation, including money earned by so-called ‘runs girls.’

This was disclosed by Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, in a widely circulated video from a tax enlightenment programme hosted by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos.

Oyedele noted that financial gifts or upkeep sent to dependants, relatives, or even strangers are not taxable, since such transfers are regarded as “non-exchange transactions.”

He explained: “You earn a certain amount of money and you have to send upkeep to your cousin, your brother, even a stranger, it doesn’t really matter.

If the amount you’re sending to someone is money you are giving to them as a gift, that’s not taxable. It is you that should have paid tax before giving them a gift.”

The committee chairman stressed, however, that once money is exchanged for goods or services, it falls under taxable income regardless of the legality of the activity.

He said: “If somebody is doing runs girls, right, they go and look for men to sleep with, you know that’s a service, they will pay tax on it.

One thing about the tax law is it does not separate between whether what you are doing is legitimate or not. It just asks you whether you have an income.

Did you get it from rendering a service or providing a good? You pay tax.”

Oyedele further urged Nigerians not to fixate on isolated aspects of the reforms but to understand the broader picture.

He compared it to the proverbial blind men trying to describe an elephant, each drawing incomplete conclusions.

According to him, the tax reforms signed into law earlier this year and set to commence in January 2026 represent “the most transformative and far-reaching” overhaul in Nigeria’s tax history, spanning more than 200 amendments across over 400 pages.

He added “With over 200 significant changes and more than 400 pages combined, it is very easy and could be tempting to narrow it down to one issue. That would be making the same mistake as the blind man and the elephant.”

The new regime consolidates existing tax laws to simplify compliance and curb disputes over multiple taxation.

Key highlights include exemptions for individuals earning less than N800,000 annually from personal income tax, and reliefs for small businesses with turnover of up to N100 million and assets not exceeding N250 million from company income tax, capital gains tax, and the new development levy.