Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has decried the low tax collection rate in Nigeria, saying it poses challenges for the financing of critical sectors such as health and education.
He stated this during Nutrivision 2024, a Pan-African youth dialogue on nutrition held in Abuja.
Gates, who was responding to a poser on potential financing mechanisms for large-scale public health interventions, said: “Over time, there are plans for Nigeria to fund the government more than it does today. The actual tax collection in Nigeria is actually pretty low.”
He pointed out that for citizens to trust the government’s ability to deliver quality healthcare, there must be a commitment to effective management of health programme funds.
The billionaire restated the importance of running an efficient primary healthcare system with well-placed and adequately staffed centres, noting that building credibility in health programmes could lead to greater fiscal flexibility, allowing Nigeria to prioritise primary healthcare funding.
Gates also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s potential to significantly boost its agricultural output, suggesting that the country could transition from a net food importer to a major food exporter.
He highlighted the need for improved credit facilities, comprehensive soil surveys, and effective advisory services for farmers as key factors in achieving this transformation.
