Executive Director of Africa Heritage Institution, (Afriheritage) , Professor Ufo Okeke-Uzodike, has decried payment of multiple taxation in some states and local government areas in the country, saying that such practice adds to the sufferings of the people.
Okeke-Uzodike, who emphasised the need for people to pay taxes, pointed out that there should be levels of taxes.
Prof. Okeke-Uzodike, who made this known while briefing Journalists on the upcoming programme of the Institution, the Big Ideas Podium, which will hold on Thursday, March 24, explained that payment of taxes should be categorised.
He was of the view that petty traders, the poorest of the poor in the society, should be exempted from paying taxes as obtained in other countries.
On why Nigerians should pay taxes, Okeke-Uzodike wondered why some people shy away from paying taxes. He disclosed that the 2020 statistics showed that only 10 million Nigerians paid taxes.
Speaking on the importance of citizens paying taxes, the Executive Director said: “Administration has to be paid for. The key problems are constantly dealt with.”
He explained that when citizens failed to pay taxes, there would be insecurity, no water supply, the problems would be worst and the transformation people are yearning for will not happen.
On why people should pay taxes when things were not working in Nigeria, the Executive Director said that social amenities should be provided for the people. There should be transparency and accountability in governance.
“We must get Government to be more responsible, more accountable and more transparent”.
Okeke-Uzodike said: “The issue of accountability and transparency is important. The social contract with the citizens should be accomplished.That’s what gives us courage.
On multiple taxation, he said: “It’s a problem. The issue is, do they have the will to stop it? We cannot have the state and local governments asking for the same tax.There has to be a way local government and State governments must work out who is responsible for collecting taxes and who will share with the other.
Okeke-Uzodike observed that Local Governments sent out people in groups (thugs)to collect this money and the money is not accounted for. He said local governments should stop using thugs to harass people. “They collect money and they don’t account for it. Sometimes people are giving them money thinking that they were paying.
“There should be levels of tax paying. You don’t expect someone selling groundnut , hwarking from one place to the other to pay tax or someone carrying small vegetables to sell for the day to see if she could get something to cook for the family to pay tax. Such people should be exempted.
” I think, something is wrong. The Government don’t seem to care and you have people (thugs) harassing citizens who are just trying to survive. We don’t have social security system”, Okeke-Uzodike said.
He lamented that the 2020 statistics showed that about 10 million Nigerians pay tax and most of them are in Lagos. On the average, about 120 people pay taxes in each state.
The Director-General was of the view that people should pay taxes and make the Government accountable.
He disclosed that the Big Ideas Podium
will hold virtually on Thursday, March 24, 2022 with the theme “Taxation and Accountability: Why should Nigerians pay tax?”
Keynote Speaker is Dr. Mark Abani while Discussants are Emmanuel Obeta, Engr. Nnaemeka Eloike and Engr. Ugochukwu Gerald.
