Pressure groups in Anambra State have tasked Governor Charles Soludo’s administration to take urgent steps to harmonize tax regime in the State.
The groups including, traders, market women, artisans, tricycle operators among others also condemned the harassment, seizure of wares displayed against market women, other traders and abuses received from revenue collectors, calling on government to immediately check the excesses of the revenue collectors and call them to order.
These were the demands of participants at a one day workshop organized by the Civil Rights Concern (CRS), Hope Givers Initiatives, Civil Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, and supported by Christian Aid Nig, held in Awka, Anambra State capital.
In an interview, the Executive Director, Civil Rights concern, Comrade Okey Onyeka, explained that citizens have rights and obligations to pay tax, while the government should provide services including guaranteeing the security and well being of the citizens. He identified taxes collected by government to include income, capitation, market fee, levies, among others. He insisted that traders, artisans and business owners pay many taxes in the State.
“Citizens are complaining about the various taxes they pay to State and local government areas. They also raised issues like fake revenue collectors, double taxation and infringement on their rights at various markets in the State, “Comrade Onyeka said.
He asked State government to add more effort in checking excesses of operators in the system to control fake revenue collectors in Anambra markets.
“We have tried to identify all these taxes, we will pass information gathered to the government so as to reform and address this multiple tax regime, “he added.
In her speech, the Executive Director, Hope Givers Initiative, Mrs Onyeka Ude identified multiple taxation as a complex problem which could easily be solved through harmonization exercise.
“The harassment of traders and market women by tax enforcement agents must stop. Government should endeavor to make tax payment fair, measurable and without harassment. We will also involve lots of sensitization, involve dialogues and advocacy, we will also begin to engage with people responsible, hear from them and get the government to do the needful. There’s also need for Anambra State Government to harmonize all forms of taxes.
“As Civil Society Organization, we will come up with a document that represents views from various market groups, pass it to the government for deliberation and consideration, ”she said. She also insisted that the sensitization should be a continuous process.
The participants including the President-General of the Amalgamated Traders and Artesian Workers Association, Anambra State, (ATAWA), Mr Peter Nwaogbodo, condemned the various amount paid by his members like television license N5,000, dry cleaners fee of N5,000, photographers fee of N5,000 monthly, declaring it is outrageous, while Engr. Anthony Aniebue from the society for sustainable development said: “There is need for the government to harmonize tax regime.”
The participants said they pay double taxation, though government claims it has harmonized the system.
“Today it is worse and a big problem because local government authorities and state government collect the same tax. We need to understand the category of taxes we are paying, “they demanded.
