OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Delta State chapter has called on the State government to urgently address the issue of multiple taxations to mitigate the prevailing hardship on the people.
The Association made the call in a communique signed by Mr. Paul Akporowho and Rev. Lewis Afolabi, chairman and Secretary respectively of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigera (APBN) made available to the Reformer in Warri.
The comminique was titled: Multiplicity/Duplicity of Taxes, Uncivil Collection of Taxes and Undue Burden on Practicing Professionals and Small Businesses in Delta State.
A copy of the communique was forwarded to the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa through the Chairman, Delta Board of Internal Revenue(DBIR).
According to the communique, “we wish to draw your attention to the above subject matter and seek your prompt intervention. We are not unmindful of the importance of taxation as a vital source of funding public infrastructures and other social services. But we are worried and disturbed about the implications of these multiplicity/duplicity of taxes and harassments of those struggling to eke out a living for themselves.’
The communique added, “the engagement of quacks who go about issuing demand notices and harassing our members in private practices and other small businesses is capable of scaring and repelling developers and investors from the State. The recent Nigeria’s subnational ease of doing business survey which placed Delta on the 35th position should be worrisome to all.”
The communique said that one of the areas of contention was on the basis for tenement rate assessment and the engagement of quacks to serve demand notices and collection of revenue on properties.
According to the Body, the act was contrary to the subsisting court ruling on the subject matter, they described the development as rather uncivil, appalling and counter-productive to the state economy.
The professional body further noted that another issue in contention is the collection of levies on property development, adding, “aside the procurement of building plan permits, developers are often harassed and compelled to pay levy on building permit, health permit and contractor permit. These are in addition to Development Levy, Foundation Levy and Engineer’s Levy payable to the respective youth and executives of communities. This is in spite of the state Private Properties Protection Act (Anti Deve Law 2018).”
They also lamented the various manner of levies on waste management, sewage, private enterprises/firms, sanitation, Physical and Infrastructural Development Levy, Drink and Liquor among others.
They further added, “we look forward to your kind and timely intervention so as to put an end to this issue. The effective handling of this matter will aide in promoting ease of doing business and creating enabling environment for the thriving of professional practices, small business and for overall development under your leadership.”
