By Idris Muhammed Abdullahi
In a country where systems routinely bend to accommodate the powerful, Nigeria has become the poster child for the phrase “anything goes.” From electoral fraud to unchecked impunity, the ideals of democracy are constantly under threat. Perhaps one of the most glaring symbols of this decay is the unchallenged presence of individuals named in the Pandora and Panama Papers—global exposés that revealed a web of offshore secrecy, aggressive tax avoidance, and outright evasion.
These individuals, many of them influential elites, have used legal loopholes and offshore tax shelters to obscure wealth and sidestep their civic obligations. Shockingly, some continue to run for—or hold—public office, controlling resources financed by the very taxes they avoid. This is more than unethical—it is a brazen insult to accountability, governance, and justice.
Tax Evasion is Economic Sabotage
When public figures dodge taxes through offshore schemes, they drain the nation of revenue needed for development. Nigeria, with its high poverty rates, fragile infrastructure, and ballooning unemployment, cannot afford to be generous to tax cheats. Every naira lost to evasion is one denied to schools, hospitals, roads, and security.
Even aggressive tax planning—technically legal—betrays the same philosophy: exploit the system, enrich oneself, and escape responsibility. Meanwhile, ordinary Nigerians pay taxes through VAT, PAYE, and import duties with no escape routes. Why should those who sidestep the tax net be allowed to dip into it?
Public Office is a Public Trust
Leadership demands more than ambition—it requires integrity, transparency, and a commitment to the public good. Individuals who have concealed wealth via shady offshore channels should be disqualified from managing national resources. Their inclusion in governance is not only inappropriate, it’s dangerous. It normalizes corruption, undermines civic morale, and reinforces the belief that the law is only for the poor.
A Simple Rule: No Tax Evaders in Public Office
Nigeria must adopt a clear, enforceable policy: any individual credibly named in global tax evasion investigations should be barred from holding or contesting for public office. This is not about witch-hunts. It’s about restoring integrity and trust to the public space.
When the Panama and Pandora Papers were published, many governments launched investigations. Nigeria did not. In some cases, those implicated were rewarded with new public roles or whitewashed reputations. This failure to act erodes confidence in our institutions.
A National Imperative
Civil society, the media, and the general public must rise to demand accountability. Anti-corruption agencies should investigate exposed individuals with urgency and transparency. Most importantly, electoral bodies and the courts must begin to treat tax evasion and financial secrecy as disqualifying traits for anyone seeking public office.
You cannot manage taxpayers’ money if you are unwilling to be a taxpayer yourself.
Nigeria may be a place where “everything goes” today—but it doesn’t have to remain that way. It’s time to draw the line.
Idris Muhammed Abdullahi is a public affairs analyst and advocate for fiscal justice in governance.
