Kachikwu Proposes Taxes on Lavish Wedding Parties, Luxurious Lifestyles 

•Bemoans celebration of mediocrity, persons with questionable character 

Peter Uzoho 

A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has called for an urgent government policy that imposes heavy taxes on expensive wedding parties, highly funded social gatherings and luxurious lifestyles, to curb the trend of wasteful spending in the Nigerian society.

The erstwhile minister who served under the first term of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration between 2015 and 2019, bemoaned the celebration of mediocrity, poor performers in positions of leadership as well as persons with questionable character while ignoring meritocracy and excellence. 

Kachikwu made the call yesterday in Lagos during his presentation as the guest speaker at the 5th Annual Colloquium in Honour of the Pastor-in-charge of Trinity House,  Ituah Oghodalo, who clocked 64 this year.

The event, with the theme, “Nigeria: A Path to Prosperity”, was organised by the Triune Foundation and Trinity House.

Delivering his keynote, while mentioning the decays in the Nigerian society, including obscene display of wealth during wedding parties and the likes, and in living luxurious lives, he said there was need to impose some taxes on such lavish programmes to curtail wasteful spending.

According to him, such tax policy will ensure that monies are channeled to where they are required to benefit the society.

He argued that despite the country being a poor and struggling nation, some people still hold lavish wedding parties and buy Rolls-Royce cars just to show off. He added that things have drifted from the normal and several unethical behaviours are being seen in the country without sanctions.

He stated, “Holding lavish weddings have become a norm in the country. People now engage in expensive parties to show their wealth and this money is not benefitting the society. So, we need some sort of taxes on such big wedding parties to curb wasteful spending.

“So that people can put money where it’s required so that society can benefit, because we never had this sort of thing. You know, the trend we are setting is such that anybody who has this lifestyle and can show off shows it off at no tax cost, no financial cost to the person. So, life continues.

“But we need to curb this. We are a developing country. We are poor and if you look at those who have national wealth fund that are globally recognised, we don’t have it anywhere and yet, we have some of the biggest parties in the world.

“So it boils down to the home. It boils down to the basic little things. Government can, through policy, put some of these things in place, so that there is a cost for lavish expenditure. Nobody is going to say ‘don’t buy a Rolls Royce’. By all means, do, but it’s 300 per cent taxed. So there are things you do and it sends a right signal and it goes all the way to the home.” 

He said Nigeria as a nation stands at a crossroads, a situation that demands a shared vision to propel the country towards sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Admitting that Nigeria possesses all the elements required for prosperity including abundance of natural resources, a resilient and dynamic population and an emerging technological and entrepreneurial landscape. 

However, Kachikwu pointed out that the path to translating those potential into progress requires a lot of dedication, daring reforms and a re-awakening of the country’s national values. 

He said while some of the changes Nigerians are beginning to see in the country through government policies may be difficult, problematic and challenging to bear, those were some of the bold decisions that needed to be taken to transform the country in the long run.