'What have you people ever done for me as a government?' - Iyabo Ojo barks at Lagos State govt over N18m tax bill

Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has taken to social media to call out His Excellency Jide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, over an alleged ₦18 million tax request.

In an Instagram post, she shared documents of a personal income tax letter and expressed her frustration with the exorbitant amount demanded by the government.

In her post, the actress voiced her concerns directly to Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State government, demanding an explanation for the hefty tax bill.

She questioned the basis for such high personal income taxes and criticised the lack of transparency in the calculation process.

The actress referred to a previous encounter where she complied with the government's request to explain her earnings and declare her income but received no response.

"Last time, you people asked me to come to your office, I came, you asked me to explain & declare what I earn, which I did with my tax consultant, but noooooooooooooo you did not respond to my letter, bcos you want me to pay you an outrageous amount that I do not have," she expressed in her Instagram caption.

Feeling overwhelmed by the mounting financial burden imposed on her, the mother of two raised concerns about the government's insensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals and businesses.

She questioned the contributions of the government to her life, stating, "What have you people ever done for me as a government? NOTHING!!! I have single-handedly raised my kids & so many others, plus myself without a single penny from the government."

This incident is not the first time Ojo has publicly voiced her grievances regarding taxation in Lagos State.

In 2019, she shared tax papers on Instagram, lamenting the excessive taxation that was jeopardising her business.

She expressed her struggle to make a profit amid various financial obligations, including rent, salaries, maintenance, and multiple taxes imposed by the local and state governments.

As of now, there has been no official response from Governor Sanwo-Olu or the Lagos State government regarding Ojo's allegations and demands for an explanation.