The world of Nigerian social media is buzzing with a new type of celebrity drama—and this time, it’s all about taxes. Popular TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, a.k.a Peller, has gone viral after he publicly lamented a massive N36 million tax bill he reportedly received from the Lagos State Government. In a livestream with singer Peruzzi, the young content creator questioned why the government would demand such a huge sum from him, especially since he claims to have only recently found fame.

“The task force said I should pay N36m in tax. I swear to Almighty Allah, I don’t have anything. I only came into the limelight last year,” Peller lamented in the now-viral video. His emotional outcry has since ignited a firestorm of discussion across social media platforms, with many debating the fairness of the tax system for digital content creators.

In a swift response, the Lagos State Government’s Special Adviser on Tax and Revenue, Abdulkabir Ogungbo, weighed in on the issue. While promising to investigate Peller’s specific case, Ogungbo stressed that anyone earning a legitimate income in the state is legally obligated to pay tax. He also clarified that new reforms are in place to guide the taxation of digital assets and virtual transactions, implying that online earnings are not exempt from the tax net.

This development serves as a wake-up call for many online stars and shows that the government is now taking a close look at the earnings of digital creators. The big question remains: Is the government being fair to Peller, or is this a necessary step to bring the booming digital economy into the tax system?

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