Taxation: Soludo Changing Traders’ Negative Narrative of Governance – Nnewi North LG Boss

By Praise Chinecherem

Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Echezona Anazodo has extolled the efforts of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP) working towards improved tax compliance and increased Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) profile in Anambra State.

Anazodo made the call when he received members of TJ&GP, led by Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre, SIDEC, the organization implementing the Tax for Service project in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with funding support from Oxfam Nigeria.

Responding to the group’s presentations, the chairman said, “When you have seen the facts, the only thing I have left for me is to accept the truth and start working on it. From your assessment, I think one thing is very sure, that if we can do more, more should also be expected from the people. They will also be willing to contribute more without using much force or adding much energy towards that.

“That has always been my belief, as well as the vision and mission of our solution government of Anambra State. You must have seen that the governor is trying to open up Anambra State from all the local governments.

“I don’t think the people are still holding on to the poor narrative they had previously about governance. Because they can see their money being judiciously used.”

Anazodo promised to look into the challenges faced by traders in markets within Nnewi North LGA with a view to addressing them. “I think we are on the same page. Most of the things being identified as the challenges of the taxpayer, especially the market area, are clearly understood and accepted by me.

“We, the Nnewi North government, will also do our best to look into those areas and know how to address those challenges,” he added.

Earlier, Executive Director SIDEC, host of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, told the Chairman, that the Tax for Service project was meant to complement government efforts towards achieving increased tax compliance by taxable residents of the state through education to understand the essence and benefits of paying their taxes and levies as and when due.

“The project is also to make government to be accountable in utilizing the revenue collected from the citizens. When government applies the ones collected properly and people see where their money is providing services for public good, they will be encouraged to do more.

“It is the best way to motivate people to comply voluntarily. Such will also save government the huge amount of money they spend on enforcement.

“The reason we are here is to also to share findings of the research we’ve done in 21 selected markets across the three senatorial zones of the state. We found that many traders are still not happy that government is not investing the money collected from them in addressing their needs in the markets.

“If government provides basic amenities needed in those markets, they will be encouraged to pay their taxes and levies”

A media consultant and member, TJ&GP, Alfred Ajayi mentioned the needs of markets within Nnewi metropolis under the jurisdiction of Hon Anazodo.

“For the building material market, Nnewi, their pressing needs include modern toilet facilities, borehole, and solar lights.

“At the Electrical and Electronic market, still in Nnewi, they need water borehole, VIP toilets, Security personnel and CCTV cameras to beef up security. The last one is the new motor spare parts, Nkwo-Nnewi, where traders said they fire trucks, VIP toilets, access roads, especially the new motor park, road, Nkwo-Nnewi-Adelaide Hotel Road.