Celebrity fashion designer Seyi Adekunle, popularly called Seyi Vodi, has advocated for prompt payment of taxes as he filed his annual tax returns.

In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila, it was disclosed that Seyi Vodi made the call during a visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service on Friday, where he filed his Annual Tax Return.

Vodi maintained that prompt payment of taxes would fast-track the actualisation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and accelerate infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory.

The PUNCH reports that Section 14 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 mandates employers to file detailed annual returns of all emoluments paid to employees, including taxes deducted and remitted to the relevant tax authorities. The Act stipulates that such returns must be filed and submitted no later than 31 January of each year.

Vodi urged business owners in the FCT and across the country to discharge their civic responsibility by voluntarily paying their taxes to facilitate the development of the territory and the nation at large.

“It is noble to pay your taxes because this is the money the government uses for infrastructural development and the provision of public services to the people. I am urging my fellow business owners, especially tailors, to come forward and voluntarily discharge this civic responsibility for the progress of the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.

He stated, “I must commend the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for the giant strides recorded within two years in office. I have been a resident of the FCT for the past 25 years, since my NYSC days. I know what the FCT used to be and what it is today. The infrastructural development under the present FCT Minister is unprecedented, particularly in road construction and security. The projects are visible; only the blind would fail to see how the capital city has been transformed.”

In his remarks, the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, commended the fashion designer for taking the bold step of voluntarily visiting the Service to file his Annual Tax Return without coercion.

Ango described Vodi’s action as worthy of emulation by other business owners and high-net-worth individuals in the FCT, noting that he is the first high-net-worth individual to file his Annual Tax Return for the year.

He further appealed to the celebrity to extend the campaign for voluntary tax compliance among his peers, encouraging them to come forward and fulfil their civic responsibility for the progress of the territory.

“The Minister has transformed Abuja into a world-class capital city, and citizens must support this progress by living up to their responsibilities so the FCT Administration will have adequate resources to do more,” he said.

Ango also pledged that the Service would present Vodi with a letter of commendation in recognition of his compliance as the first high-net-worth individual to file his Annual Tax Return this year.