Group Stands Against Illegal Multiple Taxation, Advocates Implementation, Accountability For Tax Payers.
Katherine Abayomi, Port Harcourt
In tracking and raising awareness on the issues of double taxation and illegal taxes, the Rivers State Tax Justice and Governance Platform organizied a Tax Walkathon in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
The walk was sponsored by Oxfam Nigeria and facilitated by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), in Solidarity with the walkathon are the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), students’ tax club Uniport and RUS, Organised tax Sector, and the National Association of Nigerian Traders.
The event raised awareness about the multiple and illegal taxation faced by citizens, particularly small-scale business owners and informal sector operators, in Rivers State. The Tax Walkathon is a response to the growing concerns about the proliferation of multiple and illegal taxes, which have resulted in an increased burden on citizens and businesses, reduced economic activity and investment, and Erosion of trust in government and institutions.
Kelechi Ameachi, Coordinator of the Rivers State Tax Justice and Governance Platform, stated during the sensitization campaign held in Port Harcourt that this is an action to end illegal and multiple taxation in Rivers State so businesses can expand and employ more young people who are unemployed and engaging in a lot of crime, causing mayhem in the State.
“When businesses are able to pay, harmonise, and simplify, they will be able to expand their businesses and employ more of the young people, given that we have a very youthful population”.
“That is what we are doing today; it is a sensitisation rally. We want to sensitise the public to pay their taxes as responsible citizens; at the same time, he stated that they need to hold government accountable for the taxes they pay”.
He further stated that the system will be rejuvenated when government attention is drawn to it.
“Once we can draw government attention to this issue, they will see that people are aware and not happy about the illegal and multiple taxation, they will take steps in addressing it. However, the Rivers State Government has addressed illegal and multiple taxes.”
Ameachi mentioned the new code (#5244#) for ease of business that can be used for tax payments. He also called on the government to assist in the implementation and proper enforcement by calling the taskforce and tax agents to order who go about issuing outrages demand notice.
“The challenge with it is that, it lacks proper enforcement and implementation because we still have taskforce, tax agent going about issuing lots of absurd demand notice collecting exorbitant amount of rate, levies and taxes from small businesses”.
“We are calling the attention of government to say yes, you are taking the right steps but there is need for you to do more”,he stated.
Victoria Okoko, Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Port Harcourt and District Society, speaking with journalists, mentioned that enlightenment is the first objective when it comes to tax awareness, so people know their obligations, and that the obligation to pay tax is compulsory because it is entrenched in our constitution.
Victoria also stated that its a moral obligation for the government to use our tax revenue for development purposes. She further calls on the government to be transparent in how they utilize our tax money.
“It is important for every tax payer to know their right, to know the right avenue to pay their taxes. That is why we are clamouring for digitalization of tax paying method, if taxes are paid through the digital process you now eliminate the issue of dealing with individuals that way the money will get into the government coffers.”
She also advocated for the Digitalized platform in order to Eliminate illegality and toutizim.
“In Rivers State one of the ways to eliminate double taxation is making use of *5224# once we know our rights and obligation that way we would be able to eliminate the illegality and touting in the tax paying system.” She retorted.
EvelynWilliams,Executive director of LightHope Succor Worldwide Initiative/Member Rivers State Tax Justice and governance platform, also spoke at the “tax Walkathon” and mentioned that the Health of persons doing business in public places should be taken into consideration so that the taxpayer gets a valve for his/her tax.
“Health and water facilities, and for those doing businesses in the market space, we want to see a situation whereby the government provides basic amenities such as toilet facilities, better car parks, waste management, and even a sick bay.”
“Most people doing businesses in the market place is actually mother’s, the girl child. We really want to see that those things are being put in place to ensure the taxpayers gets equivalent services for the tax being paid.”
A tax payer narrating her ordeal in the hands of these touts stated that she pays 600 -700naira everyday without much gain left for her.
“Every day, I pay six to seven (600 – 700) hundred naira, and this person will come and collect, and another person will come to collect. One person will print his ticket and say na for local government chairman; another will bring his ticket. It is too much if you do not pay those boys; they will beat you and scatter your market. One of them seized my goods in Mile 3 market since last year and refused to give me back till date “
“I do not make profit because of all this illegal levies. I sell this small small fish and my fish business is too small.”
She further adviced, that government should engage them.
The group calls for responsible citizens and the government to promote fair and progressive taxation, tax compliance, and Ease of doing business in the state.
