TAXATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DWINDLING OIL REVENUE IN NIGERIA

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Nigeria is currently not enjoying the best of times. The country is presently suffering the adverse effects of the dwindling revenue from crude oil and gas sector, which today accounts for about 95 percent of its revenue. The fallen price of crude at the world market has orchestrated the devaluation of the Naira and increased inflation. The manufacturing and other productive sectors are worst hit because, as the country is highly import dependent, they find it extremely difficult to bring in raw materials, especially now that the central bank has closed its auction market window. The dollar is expensive to procure at the interbank window and the black market. More worrisome was the need for government to review its 2015 fiscal policy by slashing the benchmark of oil, in the 2015 budget from $120 to $75, and now to $53. The implication of the budget review may not manifest now (Vanguard, 2015). It may result to a scale down in capital and recurrent spending. That alone can translate to a reduction in money in circulation.

Looking at what this portends for the nation should this trend continue unchecked, experts have called on the government not to fold its hands, but to explore other potential sources of revenue through the diversification of the nation’s economy (Dike, 2015). While some urged the government to redirect its focus to the agriculture sector, others asked the government to explore the numerous mineral resources for alternative source of income. Yet, few others said Nigeria, like many other advanced countries, can rely on tax revenue for survival. However this study is examining taxation as an alternative to the dwindling oil revenue in Nigeria.

Taxation is a means of generating revenue by government for the purpose of providing social services to the people (Okauru, 2014). Taxation all over the world is a function of reciprocity (Okauru, 2014). While the government owes it as a duty to empower the citizens by providing jobs, infrastructure and other development projects, the citizens are usually expected to reciprocate by performing their own obligations, principal of which is payment of taxes (Okauru, 2014). Revenue generated from citizen’s taxes is usually recycled by the state (government) in the area of provision of basic amenities such as water, roads, electricity, schools, among others (Okauru, 2014).