CUPP condemns Ekiti govt’s alleged arbitrary taxation

• No imposition of new taxation – commissioner

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Ekiti state chapter has condemned the alleged arbitrary taxation levied against the citizens by the state government.

The political parties who expressed worry over the recent protests of traders and business owners in the state over excruciating taxes, said the decisions of the government if not stopped could be detrimental to the state’s economy.

The coalition in a statement its chairman, Chief Dare Adekolu and the state publicity secretary, Hon Fagboro Oluwole called on the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji to channel the resources of the state to improve the economic status of the state, rather than imposing more levies on the people.

The statement reads, “It is of the truth that Ekiti economy is in dire need of transition from a civil servant state to a productive economy where the private sector thrives.

“But you don’t start this by stifling life out of small businesses that are currently life-savers to some families and also creating employment for the people. Arbitrary Taxation will not only kill our industries, lead to unemployment but will equally destroy the economy.

“As evident in some receipts issued to some of these business owners in recent times it has been a geometric tax increase right in the face of this current economic hardship.

“In a state where all the roads linking people and businesses to other states are not motorable, where people still struggle to have access to power to power their industries and where people and businesses struggle for other basic amenities just to survive; the Oyebanji led-government should reduce the cost of governance to give way for more savings for infrastructural development rather than further pushing undue financial burdens on the people.

“While the Ekiti Internal Revenue Service, EKIRS continues to perform its duties it should be civil, be interactive with taxpayers and more importantly should not hide away from the current economic hardship that the APC Led government has brought on the people and as such should ensure a realistic and affordable tax system that will not send businesses to their early graves.”

However, the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun denied the allegations that the government is imposing multiple and arbitrary taxation on the people of the state.

The commissioner stressed the commitment of the state government to ensuring that the people pay fair taxes, adding that the state’s tax system has been designed to be progressive, transparent and neutral.

Olatunbosun explained that the remarkable growth in revenue generation is a direct consequence of blocking loopholes and deploying technology for the collection of revenue as well as ensuring the money collected is judiciously spent on development across the state.

The Commissioner advised taxpayers to seek clarification in any of the EKIRS offices and take advantage of available dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce misunderstandings and misgivings.

The Chairman of the Ekiti State Internal Revenue Service, Olaniran Olatona reiterated the commitment of his agency to the promotion of equity, accountability, and sustainable economic development through a simple, transparent, just and fair tax system.

According to him, any taxpayer who disagrees with a BOJ assessment has the right to object and provide supporting financial records for a review, stressing that the agency remains open to dialogue and fair resolution of disputes through appropriate channels.

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE 

Ekiti govt plans to recruit more doctors, health workers