Stakeholders have advocated regular interface with Tax administrators in Ekiyi State with a view to reducing frequent fiction occasioned by administrative bottlenecks.
This came, as Ekiti State Government unveiled its plan to commence the collection of Land Use Charge(LUC) with effect from 2024.
These were part of the recommendations at a one day dialogue on Tax for Service in Ekiti State.
The event was organised by a non Governmental organisation, the New Initiative for Social Development, NISD in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with the support of the UK International Development.
Critical stakeholders, including Market women, hoteliers, saw millers,and members of the Civil Society Organizations charged government on transparency and accountability .
In his remarks the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Tax and Revenue Matters,Mr. Ayodeji Adarabierin disclosed that there has been a significant improvement in the internally Generated Revenue (IGR) under the present administration of governor Biodun Oyebanji.
The governor’s aide hinted that the IGR has increased above N1 billion adding that conscious efforts are being made to improve on it .
Adarabierin explained that government will do everything humanly possible to remove incidences of double taxation and bottlenecks associated with Tax and Taxation .
He said government had no plan to place unnecessary tax burden on the residents as a progressive .
Part of the plan was engage the council chairmen inorder to streamline tax collection .
The Director General, DG, Signage and Advertisement Agency, Mr. Bisi Adesua gave clarifications on the processes involved in the signage and advertisement rates. He urged stakehokders not to confuse the two
Earlier, the NISD Programme Officer, Feyisayo Olorunfemi, urged the stakeholders to assist the government to shore up its revenue generation in the State inorder to provide more dividends of democracy to the people.
The Chairman of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Prof. Christopher Oluwadare, said should be justification for tax payment, urging government to show transparency and accountability in the process.
The Saw millers urged the government to ensure that their officials are not enemies of the government, encouraging them to plant more trees to boost their business, saying they have over 300 saw mill industries in the state.
The government representatives hinted on plan to meet the newly elected local government chairmen on the subject matter .