Group Demands Provision of Gender-Friendly Facilities in Anambra Markets

By Praise Chinecherem

Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP), a coalition of non-state actors, has appealed to Anambra State Government to provide gender-friendly facilities in major markets across the state to further increase ease of doing business.

The Executive Director of Social and Integral Development Centre, (SIDEC), host of TJ&GP, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, made the appeal during a visit to the State Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, under the Tax for Service Project, implemented by SIDEC in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) with funding support from Oxfam Nigeria.

“We want to see that female traders are recognized and given prime place in the operations and leadership of the markets. We plead with government to provide creche in our markets where traders who are nursing mothers can drop their children for care during business hours”.

“We are also asking for facilities such as ramps, toilets among others to ease access for persons with disability. For instance, the toilets door and space should be big enough for a person using wheelchair.

Ehiahuruike, explained that the visit was also to share the findings of the study conducted across 21 major markets as well as the needs of the markets.

“We are presenting these findings and report anticipating necessary interventions from government. Having identified the need to train the market leaders to bridge the gap between them, the traders and the government, we shall be organizing a capacity building training for them very soon,” she added.

SIDEC boss also spoke about the impact of the Tax for Service campaign in Anambra State. “Before the inception of this project, the total IGR amount of the states was revolving around 3.2 billion per month. But, after a while, the state is able to generate 4.7 billion per month. We believe that our awareness creation efforts also contributed to that.

In a remark, a media consultant and member, Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Alfred Ajayi, stated that tax payment is an obligation of every citizen, which traders tend to perform more voluntarily when they see government addressing needs in their markets.

“At Eke-Awka market in Awka, traders are yearning for fire trucks, solar lights, boreholes, while Electrical Parts Market, Obosi needs fire trucks, boreholes, modern toilet facilities. International Building Material Market, Ogidi needs fire trucks, solar lights, CCTV, and VIP toilets.

“While Onitsha main market needs solar lights, modern toilet facilities, CCTV cameras among other things, traders in Ogbaru main market are asking for borehole, fire truck, concrete floor and roads within the markets.

Building Material Market, Nnewi needs modern toilet facilities, borehole, and solar lights while Ekwulobia is asking for security van, solar lights, borehole, roads within and around that the new market.

A varsity don and member of TJ&GP, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, called for productive synergy between relevant government MDAs, NGOs and the citizens to encourage voluntary tax compliance across the state.

“We are dealing with human beings and it’s important we carry them along while making policies,” the Varsity teacher submitted.

Responding, Commissioner for Finance, Izuchukwu Okafor, asserted, “Governor Chukwuma Soludo has done a lot in terms of market development and has been putting infrastructure in place to increase ease of doing business in the area.

“Apart from roads being constructed, massive intervention in the health, education and other sectors, the one youth, two skills programme will in the long run contribute to IGR generation because when youths work, they will pay taxes.

“I agree we should work more on tax education and sensitization to see that more eligible people pay their taxes and we are much willing to work with you on this. Our people are used to government not utilizing the revenue collected very well but the current administration is changing that ugly reality as people are beginning to see their taxes working everywhere across the state.

“In executing the projects, we are also conscious of the cost. We prioritize value for money and so for every project we’ve done for Ndi Anambra, a substantial amount of cost has been saved,” he said.

According to the Commissioner, the state internal revenue system is currently under intense innovative process with a lot of reforms in the pipeline. “For every kobo, we will put it to judicious use”.

“I agree we need to do better with our IGR. But it’s a work in progress and the government is committed to making sure that every penny is accounted for in a transparent and open manner,” he concluded.