A Nigerian remote worker has ignited a fierce online debate after publicly condemning the federal government's new tax legislation, slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. In a viral TikTok video, the woman, identified as Khadijah Sanusi (@khadijah_sanusi), expressed deep frustration, arguing that the state has failed to provide basic amenities yet seeks to tax hard-earned income from foreign sources.
"Why Tax Us Without Providing Anything?" Remote Worker's Angry Outburst
In her emotional video, Khadijah Sanusi questioned the rationale behind the 2026 tax reform, which aims to tax all income regardless of its origin. She highlighted the immense personal cost of being a remote worker in Nigeria, where unreliable public infrastructure turns simple job requirements into significant financial burdens.
"I do not understand why the government decided to start taxing us without doing any of the things we have been asking for," she stated. "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."
She detailed the extra expenses she incurs to perform her job: purchasing fuel for generators, investing in inverters, and buying expensive data subscriptions for internet access that is often unstable. "And before you know it, all your data will disappear. Make it make sense," she lamented.
Taxation Without Basic Infrastructure: The Core of the Complaint
The remote worker's central argument is that the government is failing its fundamental duty before imposing new taxes. She pointed out the absence of stable electricity, poor network services, and a general lack of opportunities within the country that forced her to seek remote employment in the first place.
"Remote work gave some of us hope," she explained. "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."
In a powerful summary of her stance, she called the reform "exploitation disguised as reform" and described it as feeling like "extortion in disguise" in her video description.
Nigerians React: Validation and Further Criticism
The video resonated with many Nigerians, sparking a wave of reactions that echoed her sentiments. Social media users expressed solidarity and shared their own anxieties about the impending tax changes.
User The Black Senator commented, "I feel your pain, all your question is valid." Another user, boss opo, sarcastically noted, "Other countries will be shouting happy new year [you] will be shouting happy new tax."
User Opeyemi 2435 stressed the political implication: "Your complains are valid and this is the reason to go out and vote when it's time." The reactions underscore a growing public discontent with the policy, especially among the digitally-enabled youth and freelance workforce.
This incident follows other reports of Nigerians reacting with shock to calculations of how much the new law would deduct from their incomes, highlighting widespread concern over the Federal Government's fiscal approach. The debate continues as the implementation date for the controversial tax law draws nearer.
