Nigerian government seeks higher revenue without considering impact on taxpayers – Mahdi Shehu

Public commentator Mahdi Shehu has criticized what he calls “anti‑people” government policies for deepening Nigeria’s economic hardship.

In a post shared with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Shehu condemned policies that prioritize revenue generation over the welfare of citizens, arguing that such an approach cannot foster meaningful progress.

“It’s all about bad government policies, unpopular government policies, anti‑people government policies, anti‑progress government policies,” he said.

Shehu warned that when policies are tilted toward increasing revenue without regard for the tax burden on citizens, the economy and society will suffer. “Anywhere policies are tilted towards getting more revenue without minding the consequences and the burden of those taxes on the lives of citizens, there will be no progress,” he added.

He also criticized a growing culture of excessive consumption and borrowing, stating that it undermines economic stability. “There is no way you can build a healthy society where people are aspiring to spend ostentatiously, spending more than they earn, pushing themselves into a debt trap,” he said.

Shehu pointed out that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imports is stifling growth. “Any country whose consumption is based on importation, there is no way that country will grow,” he said.

He cautioned that a society with little or no savings and investment capacity cannot achieve sustainable development. “Where you cannot save, where you cannot invest, where you consume everything, your name is a spectator,” he said.

Shehu called for a shift in economic thinking, urging policies that promote production, savings, and investment rather than overdependence on consumption and imports.