By Yusuf Jikanmusa (Ph.D)
In every sovereign nation, the strength of its institutions is measured not merely by the grandeur of its policies but by the fairness with which it treats those who risk their lives daily in its service. In Nigeria today, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda, there lies a compelling moral and strategic imperative, to grant tax exemption to all paramilitary agencies, just as is accorded to their Military counterparts.
This appeal is neither confrontational nor political; it is patriotic, rational, and rooted in equity. It is a call for justice for men and women who stand on the frontlines of national security, public safety, border protection, correctional management, civil defense, immigration control, road safety enforcement, and anti-narcotics operations, often under conditions as perilous as those faced by the Armed Forces.
*THE CONTEMPORARY RISKS AND HAZARDS OF PARAMILITARY SERVICE IN NIGERIA*
Paramilitary agencies in Nigeria operate in an environment fraught with multifaceted threats. In the contemporary Nigerian security landscape, the dangers they face are neither abstract nor exaggerated. They are real, persistent, and often fatal. Some of these include:
a. Exposure to Armed Violence and Terrorism:
Officers deployed at border posts, correctional facilities, highways, airports, and internal security operations frequently confront armed smugglers, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, and organized criminal syndicates. Immigration and customs officers, civil defence operatives, correctional personnel, road safety operatives, and anti-drug agents are often targeted in ambushes and violent confrontations.
b. Hazardous Operational Conditions:
Paramilitary personnel routinely operate in high-risk environments,
accident scenes involving fire outbreaks, hazardous chemicals, and mangled vehicles.
Prisons and custodial centres are prone to riots and jailbreak attempts.
Conflict-prone rural and urban communities.
Border regions characterized by transnational criminal activities.
High-speed highway enforcement operations with constant risk of fatal crashes.
c. Psychological and Emotional Strains:
Continuous exposure to traumatic events, fatal accidents, violent crimes, insurgency-related casualties, overcrowded custodial conditions, and public hostility places immense psychological stress on officers. The cumulative effect is often burnout, anxiety, and diminished morale.
d. Public Misunderstandings and Occupational Stigma:
Despite their sacrifices, many paramilitary officers face hostility from segments of the public who misunderstand their statutory mandates. This erodes morale and undermines the dignity of their service.
Given these realities, the distinction in tax treatment between military and paramilitary personnel appears increasingly difficult to justify, particularly when both categories of officers confront comparable hazards in defence of national stability.
*THE BURDEN OF HIGH TAX DEDUCTIONS AND ITS IMPACT ON MORALE*
The current tax regime, which subjects paramilitary personnel to full personal income tax deductions, has had unintended but profound consequences. Some of these include, but not limited to:
a. Reduced Disposable Income: Officers earning modest salaries see significant portions deducted, leaving them struggling to meet family responsibilities amidst rising inflation.
b. Welfare Strain: Many personnel serve in high-cost urban centers far from their families, incurring accommodation and transportation costs.
c. Low Morale:
When officers perceive inequity in treatment compared to their military counterparts, morale inevitably declines.
d. Operational Distraction:
Financial strain diverts focus from duty, as officers seek supplementary means of survival.
While taxation is a civic obligation, equity in taxation, especially for those who risk their lives daily, remains a cardinal principle of good governance.
*HOW TAX EXEMPTION ALIGNS WITH THE RENEWED HOPE AGENDA*
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently emphasized institutional reform, anti-corruption, and improved welfare for security agencies under his Renewed Hope Agenda. Extending tax exemption to paramilitary agencies would be a practical demonstration of this commitment through the following:
a. Boosting Morale and Professional Commitment:
A tax waiver would significantly improve take-home pay without necessarily increasing the wage bill. This would
reinforce a sense of belonging and institutional respect,
enhance dedication to duty and
reduce workplace dissatisfaction.
2. Curtailing Corruption:
Economic hardship is not the sole cause of corruption, but it is a contributing factor. Improved welfare through tax exemption would
reduce financial desperation,
strengthen ethical resistance to bribery,
encourage transparent enforcement practices.
The positive morale and discipline observed among military personnel, who benefit from tax exemption, demonstrate how improved welfare frameworks can enhance professional conduct and operational efficiency.
3. Strengthening National Security:
Well-motivated officers perform better. Enhanced welfare
improves response time and service delivery,
increases operational integrity,
enhances inter-agency cooperation and
promotes loyalty to the state.
*ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE PROPOSED TAX EXEMPTION*
Contrary to concerns about revenue loss, the long-term benefits may outweigh short-term fiscal implications. Some of these are but not limited to:
a. Increased Productivity: Motivated personnel contribute more effectively to economic stability.
b. Reduced Leakages: Lower corruption levels can increase overall government revenue.
c. Enhanced Public Trust: A more professional and financially secure paramilitary system builds citizen confidence.
d. Socio-economic Stability: Improved welfare reduces poverty-related vulnerabilities among officers’ families.
Moreover, the economic multiplier effect of increased disposable income among thousands of paramilitary personnel would stimulate local economies.
*THE URGENCY OF SPEEDY CONSIDERATION*
The present economic realities, rising cost of living, security challenges, and expanding operational demands make this appeal urgent. Delayed intervention risks further erosion of morale and institutional confidence.
Granting tax exemption to paramilitary agencies would not merely be a financial gesture; it would be a powerful symbol of national gratitude and fairness. It would affirm that Nigeria values all who stand in defence of its sovereignty, law, and order, whether in military uniform or paramilitary attire.
Above all, a call for Justice and institutional equity in the spirit of fairness, patriotism, and institutional strengthening, this appeal humbly urges the President and the Federal Government to extend tax exemption to Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies.
Such a policy would
restore equity between military and paramilitary personnel,
strengthen morale and discipline,
reduce corruption,
improve national security outcomes,
advance the Renewed Hope Agenda in tangible terms.
History will remember governments not only for the battles they fough but for the justice they upheld. Granting tax exemption to Nigeria’s paramilitary agencies would be a defining step towards institutional fairness, improved welfare, and a more secure nation.
It is a reform whose time has come.
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