Nigerian Remote Worker Rejects New Tax Law Ahead of 2026, Speaks Out
- A Nigerian remote worker took to social media to express her frustration as she blamed the government and condemned the new tax law
- She shared her concerns over the proposed plan to tax Nigerians and openly spoke about the struggles she faces while doing her job
- The lady mentioned the many challenges she goes through to deliver her work and faulted the government over its plan to tax all Nigerians
A remote worker has expressed disappointment at the Nigerian government over the new tax bill, stating that there is nothing the government has done that warrants the introduction of a new tax law for Nigerians.
She made the statement amid plans by the Nigerian government to officially begin implementation of the new tax law on January 1, 2026.
Source: Getty Images
Remote worker condemns new tax law
While many Nigerians have expressed frustration over the tax law set to be implemented, the lady, who is a remote worker, also took to social media to voice her concerns.
@khadijah_sanusi mentioned in her post that there are many things the government ought to have done for its people, but none of them have been implemented. She added that there are limited opportunities in the country, which forced her to secure a remote job that requires fuel, data, and stable electricity to function.
However, with these basic necessities not readily available, she explained that she spends heavily to make them available for her work. Despite this, the government is about to tax her earnings and deduct from her salary without providing opportunities or basic infrastructure.
In her TikTok video, she said:
"I genuinely wonder why we are acting like we are cool with this whole 2026 tax reform. This is December, January is almost here, and I am very worried. I do not understand why the government decided to start taxing us without doing any of the things we have been asking for.
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"As a remote worker, they want a cut of what I am hustling for, what I am earning from another country, just because my own country has no opportunity for me.
"So after paying all this money, what do I get in return from a country that basically lacks even the most basic infrastructure?
"I am honestly pissed because why would I be paying the same country that can make you lose those remote opportunities due to very bad electricity and poor network, which we are already paying heavily for?"
Source: Getty Images
"To do this same remote work, there is no light. I need an inverter. I need to buy a generator that I will be fueling with so much money. I need to subscribe with so much money without enjoying the network.
"And before you know it, all your data will disappear. Make it make sense.
"Remote work gave some of us hope. Hope that we could take care of ourselves, take care of our families, invest, and live better. But now, the same country that provides little to no opportunities and has increased the cost of living wants a cut of the earnings we are working very hard to earn from another country.
"This is exploitation disguised as reform. They cannot even provide the most basic things we need to make life easier. There is no light, no electricity, no reliable network, yet we are subscribing heavily without enjoying the service."
She added in her video description:
"The 2026 tax reform feels like extortion in disguise, and I feel annoyed each time I think about it."
Reactions as lady condemns tax law
The Black Senator noted:
"I feel your pain, all your question is valid. it's a price for developing. Cost of living is expensive everywhere. It's worse in the west."
boss opo said:
"Other countries will be shouting happy new year use will be shouting happy new tax."
Opeyemi 2435 stressed:
"Your complains are valid and this is the reason to go out and vote when it's time."
vastonly_ added:
"If una start pay this stuff by January I go Just knw say Na fullzz una be very big one."
A viral video by a remote worker, Khadijat Sanusi, caught the attention of Legit.ng after she spoke passionately about how Nigeria’s proposed new tax law could negatively affect her livelihood.
In the video, Khadijat highlighted the realities of working remotely in Nigeria, explaining the sacrifices she has had to make to sustain her job.
She expressed concern that the introduction of a new tax law, which may include deductions from digital earnings, would place additional strain on remote workers like herself.
Legit.ng reached out to Khadijat Sanusi via email for further comments, and she shared detailed insights into the challenges she faces as a remote worker in Nigeria.
Speaking on the difficulties of getting work done, she said,
“As a remote worker in Nigeria, I face several challenges that greatly affect my productivity and income potential. The biggest issue is electricity. Frequent power outages are the norm, even though we pay for power. There are months I do not see public electricity at all, both where I live now and where I lived before."
“Because of this, I had to get a generator, but the cost of fueling it is extremely high, especially after fuel subsidy removal. I spend about seven to eight thousand naira on fuel every Friday. This pushed me to invest in a solar inverter, which also cost a lot of money. All these expenses cut deeply into the income I earn from remote jobs.”
She also spoke about poor internet services and high data costs.
She explained,
“Another major challenge is poor internet quality and the high cost of data. Internet connection is extremely unstable and can be very frustrating to the point of being unproductive. Data is expensive compared to our income levels."
“I currently use three different SIM cards and switch between them because none of the networks is reliable. Despite spending heavily on data, I have missed important meetings and deadlines. A significant portion of my earnings goes into just staying connected.”
Khadijat further highlighted how transportation and infrastructure issues affect her work.
She said,
“Transportation costs and poor infrastructure make simple tasks like going to a coworking space or meeting clients very stressful. Traffic congestion and bad roads often disrupt my schedule.”
She also spoke about the cost of essential tools and discrimination faced by Nigerian remote workers.
“In addition to all this, many essential tools are priced in foreign currencies. Because of poor local payment infrastructure, I often pay extra fees or rely on workarounds. We also get limited features on some software because of our region, which is frustrating since we pay the same amount as users elsewhere."
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“Another major issue is nationality bias. Nigeria has lost credibility in some countries, and some foreign clients stop working with me once they realise I am Nigerian, even when I am delivering excellent results. Because of this, I have had to create profiles using other locations like the United States just to access opportunities. All these issues make it harder for Nigerian remote workers to compete globally or reinvest in their work.”
After explaining the challenges she faces, Khadijat shared how she believes the new tax law could further affect her income.
She said,
“With the new tax on digital services, my take home earnings will reduce significantly, even though I already operate on very tight margins because of high living and operating costs like electricity, internet, and work tools."
“There are already existing deductions. I face withholding taxes, platform fees, and service charges. For instance, YouTube deducts taxes at source, especially for international audiences. Freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork also deduct fees, while payment processors charge service fees before income gets to me."
“This means the money that eventually reaches me is already reduced before local expenses are considered. Introducing additional taxes without accounting for these deductions will further reduce my net income. This makes it harder to save, invest in better tools, or grow professionally. If not properly structured, the tax law could discourage remote work and reduce Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.”
Khadijat also shared what she would say to the government if given the opportunity to speak on the new tax law.
She said,
“The government should recognise remote work as a growing economic opportunity. Remote workers bring foreign exchange into the country. Supporting us with stable electricity, affordable internet, and clear tax policies will help us earn more, pay taxes properly, and contribute more to the economy."
“Remote workers already contribute through platform deductions, VAT on services, data purchases, fuel, and equipment. Any new tax policy should recognise these realities. The government should also consult relevant stakeholders before implementation. Remote workers, freelancers, and digital professionals should be part of the conversation so that policies are fair, realistic, and workable.”
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In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that Nigerians will be required to pay tax on all income under the new tax reform, no matter where the money comes from.
Nigerian man react to tax bill
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that a Nigerian man shared his shock after seeing how much money would be taken from his salary when the new tax law starts in January 2026. He said the tax will affect all Nigerians, no matter their tribe or religion.
Many people also reacted online, with some criticising the government for taxing citizens while borrowing money without improving the country.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
