BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has declared that the state government will look at all outstanding tax liabilities and grant waivers to all the people who have defaulted as long as they are ready to pay up the outstanding within ninety days.
Speaking during a meeting with representatives of tax payers at the Government House, Benin City, Friday, Governor Obaseki said he had asked the Chairman Internal Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah to call the tax payers to the meeting so that they could rub minds on issues bordering on tax payment in the State. The Governor said government was prepared to grant tax waivers for outstanding liabilities provided the tax payers are ready to pay up the balance.
He said, “This is a new era, and things are difficult. And as a government that is listening, we must respond. But also as a people, you must also reciprocate. Therefore, we will look at all outstanding tax liabilities, all the people who have defaulted, that’s up to 31st December, and give you waivers. We will waive most of the interests and penalties that have accumulated and also a part of what is outstanding. Depending on the categories, the waiver you will get will be up to 50% of what you owe, provided that you also agree that you make a payment of what is outstanding within ninety days.”
Governor Obaseki continued, “To tax is to govern because any government that has no tax-base cannot govern. You have voted in a government and you want them to continue the good work that we started some time ago. And so, you agreed therefore that tax must be paid. The issue we should now focus on is: how we deal with some of the injustices, concerns and inefficiencies which you currently see in the system. The next set of questions should be: how do you think government can go about collecting and administering taxes now? Let us turn the case around. The good thing about taxation in Edo State is that I have had time over the past five years to reflect on a lot of the issues.”
He called for synergy in the task at hand, “I think the solution will have to come from both of us that we in government will have to work harder and to see whether we can corroborate the information we have. But on your own part, I know many of you are honest and straight forward, but you cannot speak for many other people in the same way. So, we will ask you on your part to please also try and come out with your own documents, the facts as they are which we can check.”
According to the Governor, “If we can increase the number of people paying tax from the current 160,000 to say 300,000 today, our tax problem will not be as difficult. So, the issue is to get more people into it, and that way, it will be fairer because only a few people are carrying this burden. So, the two solutions I am suggesting is, 1. You also have to help us with documentation which we can check to verify the authenticity of the information we have, and then the issue of working together as a group because it will be difficult for every member of a group not to tell the truth.”
The Governor said business operators such as courier services and food vendor could be considered to use motor bikes for their operation in order to boost their income, but they would have to register those motor bikes with the Ministry of Transport. He said, “Somebody raised an issue of the courier company. Please write again to us. And I believe that we had decided at one time in government that if your business requires you to have motor bikes, what you had to do was to register those motor bikes with the Ministry of Transport and you agree on the charge which you will pay annually and most bikes can now be used to do business. I know that you have courier companies, some food companies. It has to be structured that these motor bikes are being used for this purpose.” The meeting had an interactive session where representatives from the private and public sectors shared their experiences and proffered possible solutions to the challenges of tax system in the state.
Others present at the meeting included the Secretary to the State Government, Hon. Osarodion Ogie Esq, Chief of Staff, Edo State Government, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Chairman,Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah and State Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Barr. Anselm Ojezua.
