Legal practitioner and policy analyst Dr. M. O. Ubani, SAN, has said he would be willing to pay higher taxes in Nigeria if public revenue delivered a quality of life comparable to what he experienced in Denmark.
In a reflection titled “Would Ubani Mind Paying 50% Tax in Nigeria If I Got Denmark’s Quality of Life? My Copenhagen Experience,” Ubani examined the relationship between taxation, accountable governance and public services following his attendance at the International Bar Association Annual Conference in Copenhagen.
He described the city’s reliable transportation, cycling infrastructure, clean environment and maintained public spaces as examples of systems designed to serve people. His experience prompted questions about Nigeria’s electricity supply, healthcare, education, road infrastructure and management of public resources.
Ubani clarified that he was not proposing an immediate 50 or 60 per cent tax rate for Nigerians, noting that any tax policy must consider income levels, poverty, living costs and government’s capacity to provide essential services.
“What I am advocating is a fundamental change in our understanding of taxation and governance. Taxation should not be regarded primarily as an instrument for extracting money from citizens. It should be a means of financing public prosperity, expanding opportunities and improving lives,” he wrote.
He argued that government must demonstrate transparency, reduce waste, confront corruption and produce measurable results before asking citizens to pay more.
“The Nigerian taxpayer must be able to ask not only how much money has been collected, but also what that money has accomplished.”
While acknowledging that Nigeria cannot simply replicate Nordic systems, Ubani maintained that their experience offers lessons in institution-building, responsible leadership and sustained investment in public welfare.
Read Dr. Ubani’s full reflection in the attached document.
WOULD UBANI MIND PAYING 50% TAX IN NIGERIA
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