Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Social and Integral Development Center (SIDEC) has sensitised relevant stakeholders on enhancing tax compliance and improving efficiency in revenue collection in Anambra State.
Supported by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and UK International Development, the workshop aimed at educating the stakeholders in Anambra North Senatorial District on tax policies, compliance, and effective collection methods.
Executive Director of SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, in her opening remarks, emphasised the importance of tax for government service delivery. She highlighted its goal of improving government services across sectors while educating citizens on their tax responsibilities.
Mr. Bruno Chinecherem, the SIDEC ICT Officer, while presenting a paper on “Tax Policies and Laws,” outlined arbitrary taxation, unclear distribution of taxation powers among government levels, and inadequate taxpayer information as challenges facing Nigeria’s tax system leading to non-compliance.
On his own, Barrister Paul Okoye stressed the need to change the negative perception of taxation, highlighting the need for the government to address issues of banditry and contractor abuse during tax collection processes.
Contributing, National Vice President of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Prof. Charles Nwadigwe, criticised the application of plea bargains in tax payment, advocating for fair treatment of taxpayers regardless of their status.
For Engr. Tony Aniebue, Anambra State has legislation on taxation but unfortunately, the law lacks enforcement. He urged small and medium enterprises to maintain proper financial records for smoother tax experiences.
In a presentation on UHBET Roles and Responsibilities, the Assistant Team, Unified Hybrid Enforcement Team, UHBET Lead for Anambra North Senatorial District, Barrister Nonso Arinze, revealed significant revenue gains through the Enforcement Team’s efforts.
While Arinze stated that his team has already plugged tax leakages amounting to 3.1 Billion Naira, he said his team has also vowed to crack down on traders evading personal income tax.
On her part, Mrs. Georgina Akunyiba of the Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) urged UHBET to improve awareness of tax roles and responsibilities to reduce redundancies in presentations. She also called on ASATU to aid in community enlightenment towards improving tax performance.
Ikengaonline reports that the event which was attended by stakeholders from Anambra North Senatorial Districts, witnessed participation from market leaders, farmers, civil society organisations, the academia, and government officials. This collaborative effort signals a step forward in addressing taxation challenges and promoting effective revenue collection in Anambra State.
