The leadership of National Association Of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has frowned at the newly imposed and “petty” reduction of land use charge and other tax reviews in Lagos State.
The student group stated that it clearly listened to the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, saying the governor had granted a 50 per cent reduction on commercial charges, 25 per cent for owner-occupier, tax credit for payment already made and introduces instalment payment plan.
The statement reads that the leadership of NAPS specially appreciates Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s desire to build world-class infrastructure and improve the well-being of its citizens.
“At the same time, it saddens our hearts that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration has directly showed the cruel side of his administration not minding the hardship situations prevailing and causing inconvenience to Nigerians under the Buhari led administration.
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“NAPS believes that tax reform for the 21st century means rewarding hardworking families by closing unfair loopholes, lowering tax rates across the board. It demands reducing the tax burden on citizens so they can keep more of their income to invest in our communities, but reverse is the case here.
“We are yet to gain the full knowledge why the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, did not tell Lagosians if the bill was or will be passed into law by the council responsible for the passing of bills, which is the Lagos State House Of Assembly.
“NAPS is using this rare medium to inform Governor Ambode that the reduction percentage so far is nothing to write about. Also, the probability of the governor having a booming and flourishing economy is very slim if he keeps to the high rate of tax.
“Our hardworking parents/guardians who are struggling to pay tuition fee, who are going through hard times just to sustain their metabolism, sort family issues, debts and other allowances shouldn’t be encouraged into gambling and robbery to meet up with the tax increment.
“Only the ‘rich’ people by definition have the ‘extra’ money to buy things and invest to create economic growth. Do we really want to tax that ‘extra’ money away and give it to your administration to spend? Does that make any economic sense outside of politics and our emotional desire to make everyone suffer equally through this tough times?
“We need an equal opportunity society, one in which government does not see its citizens as a means of extorting funds. We are also using this rare average to urge all Lagosians to give their full support in the protest of kicking against this petty reduction. I believe this government is not here to hit our soft-hearted parents/guardians with an unreasonable tension.
“If the increment is eventually accepted by the citizens of the state, the governor should be aware that landlords will invariably transfer the burden of payments to there overwhelmed tenants. In the end, it is poor among the populace that will suffer it.
“On this note, we once again plead to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to give more reduction on the tax and also, it should be signed as a bill,” the statement read.