Ruth Oginyi
Group, Tax Justice and Governance Platform have called for total automation of revenue collection in Ebonyi State southeast Nigeria.
This according to the tax justice is to address the tax leakages of double taxation among others in the state.
This was made known during a market sensitization program tagged Tax March at Ebonyi State International Market Abakaliki the state capital.
The tax march was organized by Neighborhood Initiative for Women Advancement (NIWA) in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, with support from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and OXFAM International.
Addressing the marketers, the Ebonyi team lead Nancy Oko-Onya noted that the tax system in the State sometimes puts a heavy burden on the less privileged and low-income earners in the state.
“We are requesting tax automation in Ebonyi State that will help curtail revenue loss and tax leakages. It will also help the government to know how many numbers of people are paying tax in the state”.
,” Also we have been advocating against using third parties to collect revenues; that is, contractors who are not trained with their untrained boys as task forces.
“This has caused fights and conflicts regularly.
“This has caused fights and conflicts regularly.
“Most times there are no tax assessments by revenue officers making people be tasked above their earning capacities.
“I think it is high time both the government and the civil society Organizations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, teamed up to ask questions and have tax education in the State.”
Let’s have a tax grievance address mechanism.” She said.
Chris Okorie, Ebonyi State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, In his submission noted that tax payment by citizens was necessary for development, he said that the process of revenue collection should respect the rights of the people.
Fidelis Mbam, the chairman, of Lot 3 Traders Union on his part appealed to the government and her revenue agents to avoid imposing multiple taxes on them.
Mbam further stated that revenue accruing to the government through the various taxes should be properly utilized in providing basic amenities such as good water in the market.
