Stakeholders in the informal sector have lamented imposition of multiple taxes by Ekiti State Government, saying that the negative effect of the taxes is not only affecting the masses in the state, but also causing poor patronage for business owners.

The tax-payers, under the auspices of the ‘Tax for Service Group,’ gave the lamentation, at the weekend, during a media engagement on “Improving Governance through Tax for Service in Ekiti State,” which was organised by the New Initiative for Social Development (NISD), in collaboration with Nigerian Situation Room.

Worried by the alleged lack of proper utilisation of taxes by the government, NISD, in partnership with United Kingdom (UK) International Development, had organised the two-day engagement with stakeholders in the informal sector to sensitise them about the need to engage government and monitor the utilisation of taxes.

Chairman of the group, Prof. Christopher Oluwadare, who spoke with newsmen at the end of the sensitisation meeting, vowed to monitor government activities and stop tax leakages.

Oluwadare, who was represented by the Tax for Service Group Secretary, Akin Abimbola, said stakeholders at the informal sector are facing challenges of double-taxation and multiple-taxation.

Meanwhile, a resource person at the parley and a Deputy Director, Commercial & Corporate Law at the state’s Ministry of Justice, Adedayo Eniola Arogundade, has called for the establishment of the State Tax Appeal Tribunal in Ekiti State where tax-payers could lodge complaints and get justice, noting that just like government, tax- payers also need to be protected.

Arogundade also said that tax authorities must educate the tax-payers on the nature of taxes and levies being collected in the best language they understand to make the collection easy and voluntary. (The Guardian)

•PHOTO: Ekiti State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Olabode Folorunso (left); Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye; a beneficiary, Mrs. Rotimi Cecilia; Governor Biodun Oyebanji; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Joel Akinola and the state’s Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe, during the presentation of gratuity cheques to local council and primary school retirees in Ado-Ekiti.

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