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A group, which has identified itself as Tax Justice and Governance Platform, has called for total automation of revenue collection in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria.
According to them, this will address tax leakages, and multiple taxation, among other challenges associated with taxation in the State.
The group, spoke during a market sensitization programme tagged, “Tax March” held at Ebonyi State International Market in Abakaliki, the State Capital yesterday.
The Tax March was organized by the Neighborhood Initiative for Women Advancement (NIWA) in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, with support from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and OXFAM International.
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Addressing the marketers, the Ebonyi team lead Nancy Oko-Onya, noted that the tax system in the State sometimes puts a heavy burden on the less privileged and low-income earners.
She said, “We are requesting tax automation in Ebonyi State that will help curtail revenue loss and tax leakages. It will also help the Government to know how many people are paying tax in the state”.
“Also we have been advocating against using third parties to collect revenues, that is, contractors who are not trained,.with their untrained boys as task forces. This has caused fights and conflicts regularly.
“Most times there are no tax assessments by revenue officers making people to be tasked above their earning capacities.
“I think it is high time both the government and the civil society Organizations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, teamed up to ask questions and have tax education in the State.
