Lagos State Government has reacted to the outcry of TikTok influencer Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, to their action.

The streamer had lamented a N36 million tax bill allegedly sent to him by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS). But now, the state government has stepped in with clarification.

Abdulkabir Ogungbo, Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tax and Revenue, explained that taxation is not targeted at individuals like Peller but applies to everyone earning legitimately in Lagos. Ogungbo said: “I need to take a look at this particular case in detail, but generally, the LIRS is empowered by law to assess and give the best judgment on behalf of the government.

According to him, Section 24 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly mandates every citizen who earns income to declare it honestly and pay tax. When quizzed on whether online influencers like Peller fall into this bracket, the Special Adviser noted that new tax reforms already cover digital assets and virtual transactions.

He clarified “Personal income tax applies regardless of whether you earn physically or virtually. If you live in Lagos and use its infrastructure while making money, you are expected to remit tax to the LIRS—unless you can prove that you already pay tax to another jurisdiction.” This means that TikTok stars, YouTubers, Instagram influencers, and other online earners are not exempt from taxation simply because their work is digital.