By Tina Amanda
Stakeholders in the business community have called on the state government to harmonize it’s tax collection in order to strengthen tax administration in the state.
The stakeholders made the call during a one-day workshop organized by Tax Justice and Governance Platform in collaboration with Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) with the theme:”Stakeholders Tax Policy Dialogue on Strengthening Tax Administration in Rivers State.
State Coordinator of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Kelechi Ameachi, said there is a need to address the issue of multiple taxation affecting businesses in the state
“Having done research two years back and in addition to the research PIND Foundation did this 2023 on multiple taxation and illegal levies in three Niger Delta states which are Rivers, Abia, and Delta. We came up with some findings, the need for more engagement with citizens, Civil Societies, and tax professionals like the government.
“It was on that basis after we had a validation exercise of the research we did that we decided to have a tax policy to talk about the challenges not just the challenges to begin to proffer solutions on how we can reduce multiple taxation in Rivers.
The Advocacy Manager PIND Foundation, Chuks Ofulue, called on the government to create more awareness of its tax policy in the state.
“It is a Niger Delta-wide problem but this round table is particular for Rivers State, it has just begun with the roundtable where they are proffering solutions on the way to go and handle multiple taxation. You can not totally strike it off, but it can be limited.
“As you limit it, you continue gradually to progress in taxation or businesses. I advise the business public to be patient and begin to question government taxes or those people who come to them for taxation.
State Coordinator National Association of Nigerian Traders, Gloria Akintoye, appealed to the state government to regularize the amount of levies, and taxes being paid as well as sanitize the business environment.
“Traders pay so much in most markets in Rivers State, even the basin trader whose goods may not be up to five thousand naira are forced to pay. People who come to collect these levies from traders are touts, these hefty guys come in a group and the trader who is helpless have no choice but to pay whatever levy is being demanded.
“You pay these levies and taxes yet we do not get sanitation daily in the markets. In Mile One market, Port Harcourt, they do not pick up the garbage on time, we are expecting the government to do more and reciprocate by restructuring the internal savings activities in the market because we pay our taxes and levies.
“We want the government to regularize how much is paid by each trader, so everybody will be on the know that as am coming to the market today, this is expected of me to pay. These are our challenges as traders and we expect that through advocacy platforms like this, the government will come to our aid”.
She however appealed to Civil Society Organisations to carry out more advocacy in order to help improve the business environment.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of Organised Private Sector, Geoffrey Agorom, maintained that double taxation has driven away lots of investors from the state.
He lamented that so many businesses has collapsed or left the State as a result of multiple tax, demand notice and levies collected by thugs and community leaders.
“People will be coming for investment in Rivers State but all these touts will stop them on the way. I have had an occasion where expatriates that was coming, they impounded their vehicle and they had to turn back from there.
“If you work in Rivers State as a private or corporate body and you succeed each day just give thanks to God. And for such people else where they will be prosperous, because of the harsh situation here caused by multiple taxation, different people go to different organizations to block their gate and demand one thing or the other.
“Demand notice is flying from different places, but the good news is, this present government has put a stop to such activities, particularly from local government”.
Our Correspondent reports that stakeholders from various sectors and government agencies were in attendance of the workshop.
