18 Aug 2008 |
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Recent re-developments in Lagos has given us reason to smile and give thanks to the Lagos state government, especially the anchor-man of that government, Governor Fashola. He is spending big and no doubt he will need more funds to completely execute his dreams. Among various options opened to the state govt is to “increase tax drive”, a phrase that could mean more than asking people to pay their taxes but actually ensuring that tax evaders are nailed down and other “untaxed” but taxable entities are correctly taxed. Knowing how “fearful” Nigerians are of their Pastors/Imams, the govt has exploited this “spiritual stupidity” to their full advantage and now, it’s the time of these “Men of God” who don’t themselves pay Tax, to implore and frighten their congregations into paying tax, using a section of the holy books! Hmmmm, alright, its God’s money and God cant be taxed, only “Ceaser” needs tax and can be taxed, right? Not to pay ones tax is a criminal act and l consider it very unpatriotic. Having said that, a few things have very serious bearing on whether one becomes willingly unpatriotic or not. We need to ask ourselves, especially the government who is levying the tax:
Is the amount being levied, sensible and fair? On many occasions, some nonentities just sit down on their spacious swivel chairs and cook-up figures as “Tax payable”. This should not be so, tax is not a punishment, it is not meant to impoverish a hard-worker or completely erode his hard-work. As done in enlightened countries, not by wicked men we have in Nigeria, up to a certain level of income, you're exempt from paying tax. The reasons for this are many but mostly because the Govt wants you to use the “slack” to develop your business and recognize that for your income to be below that stated level, you must still be struggling and can use all financial assistance you can get. That is a humane government for you.
Are you paying for what your Tax should be providing for
you? In as much as we are in an era of "copy-copy" govt, where Guv'nors just copy any “revenue-earning policy” from abroad without copying the "responsibility imposed" by such revenue in the host country, we need to let the govt become aware that once they shirk their own responsibility to the citizens, they lack the moral right to enforce the payment of Tax. If l have to spend a large chunk of my profit on Generator and fueling it, buy portable water, do drainage and repair the road that leads to my factory, e.t.c., things which naturally fall within the purview of govt responsibility, then, that “Money spent” should account for and as, my contribution to the state. I can not be paying tax and still have to provide social and structural amenities for myself.. What then is the essence of governance? Just to collect Tax? When the Tax amount us too exorbitant, the people feel like they are been "fleeced" and they resort to dodging taxes. Let the amount be “moderate and affordable” for each person but the govt can increase its "tax revenue base/volume" by creating more jobs, real jobs that is (not more Area Boys and extortionist!) so that the number of Tax payers are on the increase.
Is my Tax being utilized to solve my problems? Every citizen has a right to ask and evaluate this question. The whole idea behind paying Tax is for the elected govt to have money to run programs which the “citizens demand”, not the programs the “govt wants” to implement. For example, if Lagosians believe that a “Short Rail Service” running from Sango Otta to V/Island, (with stops at Abule Egba, Ikeja, Palm Groove, Yaba, Idumota), is their priority, to solve their transportation problem, they would be more than willing o continue to pay their Tax if govt goes ahead and start constructing such project.. rather than buy a luxury Yatch anchored at Lekki, as tourist accommodation! We want to see populace/masses oriented projects that solve the problems of three or four million Lagosians at a stroke, not some white elephant project that further enriches a few rich men while leaving the majority of the people, desperate and struggling to survive.....and still pay Tax! Other issues that annoy people are the current flagrant display and abuse of power by “tax enforcers” who sometimes seems to be high on drugs! How can a Tax payer be happy paying the same Tax to the three Tiers of govt? The “local govt touts” will harass you, then Lagos “state-goons” will follow while the “federal-thugs” of FIR will also come in-tow. It is very funny if not criminal to watch our revered men of God harping on the need to pay our taxes, citing the Bible/Quoran in their usual lopsided manner, (as they do for Tithe), while not first addressing the issue of multiple taxation which Jesus or Mohammed themselves, will definitely have frowned upon! Why is it so impossible for the three arms of govt to do what is right before God and man and streamline their tax demands so that everyone knows before hand, what he owes govt? Why must each one of these arm of govt turn a blind eye when, in something akin to rubbing a defenseless widow, when another arm demands for a tax that has already been payed to another arm of govt? How can we tax a widowed woman who hawks pepper or vegetables (total capital investment not even up to =N= 700) a "minimum” of =N=2,500, as proposed by Lagos state govt? What are these religious leaders saying about this and why are they not fighting on the side of the masses or is this just a convenient arrangement so that the govt will not tax them for all the “cheap but untaxed” contributions they collect and spend lavishly for their conveniences? For a govt that shirks its responsibility of “differentiating and taking care” of these group of people (the abjectly poor and widowed) to further seek to strangulate them is the height of executive criminality and ‘man’s inhumanity to man’. Must God come down by Himself to administer "koboko" before we listen to our conscience? No man or state can become rich by “grabbing” from the needy and under-privileged! In as much as l like to encourage Guv'nor Fashola on all the developmental projects he has undertaken, l want to implore him...no, l want to beg him to pleeease, put a human face on his govt. I know you need the money for your projects but you also need to save lives and champion the cause of the oppressed. You need to get close to the poor people, especially the middle-aged women, to experience how they gradually die (we actually kill them gradually) daily, from excruciating poverty. Please, if you need to tax us for "Widows tax", please do and lets help this category of people. Thank you
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