By Praise Chinecherem
Stakeholders have called for regular interactions between Anambra State Government and citizens on the imperative and benefits of tax payment, to foster voluntary compliance by citizens and increase the revenue profile of the state.
The people made the call in Awka during the onboarding meeting for the implementation of the “Tax for Service Project” in Anambra State, attended by relevant government officials, National President, Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, members of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, market leaders, civil society advocates and media professionals including the Managing Director, Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, Kryss Molokwu.
On the occasion, Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre, SIDEC, host of Tax Justice and Governance Platform in the State, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said the project, being implemented in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) with support from Oxfam Nigeria, is aimed at ensuring tax justice.
“Tax for Service Project is to sensitize market leaders on the need to encourage voluntary compliance in payment of tax, develop charters of demand and solicit for government intervention for inclusion into the 2025-2026 budget of the state. We will be engaging a total of 21 major markets, 7 in each senatorial zones.
“Anticipated outcomes include production of Anambra State Tax for Service Market Report, enhanced tax compliance among traders, developed charters of demand for each market, strengthened capacity for market leaders on leadership roles and responsibilities as well as improved accountability and responsiveness to market needs”.
The Commissioner for Industry and Commerce, Christian Udechukwu, represented by Okeke Chuka, remarked, “The problem has always been tax justice and multiple taxations. Thanks to the Governor who introduced automated revenue collection.
“The reforms initiated by the ministry is enhancing ease of doing business in the state. Today, Anambra State is 7th in ease of doing business ranking in Nigeria and 1st southern Nigeria”.
Chairman, Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue Service, (AiRS), Dr Greg Ezeilo, also represented by Director of Taxes and Head of Department, Assessment, Herbert Ofomata, noted that non-compliance to tax obligation violates extant laws and s punishable.
“In Anambra, we have a governor who ensures prudent utilization of all collected revenues. That is why we encourage the citizens to keep their side of the bargain”.
For his part, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Joachin Achor, noted, “This marks the beginning of a significant step towards promoting economic goal of the state as revenue is the greatest weapon to achieve significant milestone in the face of ever-growing demand for infrastructure across the state.
“Government is committed to ensuring efficient utilization of all revenues generated. For this project, we will provide the needed support and guidance for its smooth implementation”.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Market, Chief Evaristus Uba, represented by Director Market, Francis Iloduba, appealed to citizens to keep faith with the government by discharging their civic responsibility of tax payment to enable government to sustain on-going development strides across the state.
“Our people should pay tax to assist the governor to transform the state into a mega city. The traders should comply as government introduces a good system which ensures that all revenues are paid into government coffers”.
Keynote speaker and Director, International Collaboration and Linkages, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof Uche Nwogwugwu, noted that tax fairness and justice are needed to encourage greater compliance by citizens as well as propel economic growth.
“If you pay tax to the government, it’s part of social contract. You’re saying to the government, I give you this my tax, use it to protect me and provide some basic needs like health, infrastructure etc.
“There have been multiple taxation. This is where technology is needed. If all traders, importers and distributors are taxed heavily, the burden comes back on the final consumers because the traders add up all the taxes to the prices of their goods. All of us pay the price for high taxation which eventually discourages economic activities,”.
National President, ASATU, Titus Akpudo, noted that while taxation plays a major role in the governance of a state, the manner the revenue collected is utilized determines whether citizens will voluntarily comply or not. “The present administration is doing well in infrastructure development, health care, education, etc and needs to be supported by all and sundry”
“It is good to convene regular meetings between government and the citizens on revenue generation because everything about dividends of democracy anchors on taxes and its utilization. The state generates a lot but the what is actually remitted into government coffers is another problem”.
Speaking on behalf of traders, the National Chairman, ASMATA, Aguata Zone, Eze-Igwe Chiedozie, pledged the sustained cooperation of traders with the present administration in the state. “Our Governor has already assured us that every kobo from traders will be well-utilized to develop Anambra. We will continue to encourage fellow traders to pay all the revenue that are due to the state”.
