Menace of Illegal Tax Collectors: Yahaya Bello to the Rescue
By Nafisat Bello
Tax collection is supposed to be one of the major revenue sources of an entity and its proceeds are supposed to be meant for the general good and welfare of all. However, like everything else that seems to be abused in Nigeria, multiplicity of taxes is killing businesses and individual efforts now as all manner of illegal bodies are on the road, in the parks, in markets and shopping centres harassing people to collect levies that are never accounted for.
Across the states and local government areas, there are so many unlawful compulsory payments collected by local and state governments without appropriate legal backing through intimidation and harassment of the payers. They mostly use stickers, road blocks, agents/consultants including motor park touts to harass small business owners and fleece them of the little profits they make.
The rate at which multiple collection of taxes and levies is eating deep into the dry pockets of small businesses and individuals is alarming. Businesses are suffering everyday because of the multiple taxes they pay. When they end up paying the touts, the ‘agberos,’ the local government, state government and all that, they will have almost nothing left to continue the business and to also take home.
Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra state is one of the most affected cities in the country. It is quite unfortunate to say that people are not safe passing through Onitsha to Lagos, Benin and other cities as they get attacked by individuals wielding sticks and other dangerous weapons, and extorting money from the motorists.
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Similarly, in Akwa Ibom state, in Uyo specifically, business owners and transport operators are also lamenting the multiple taxation they have to face. Agents of government who are persistent on series of meaningless taxes have crippled their businesses.
Also in Umuahia, Abia State, tricycle operators have also cried out as they are being exploited and illegal rule is being imposed on them by touts, claiming to be working for the local government council. The truck drivers are not left out either.
Efforts to get rid of those touts and put a stop to such illicit and illegal activities have proved abortive over the years. The more the government of the state tries to bring an end to such activities, the more the touts devise new ways of remaining on the streets.
While this is a big problem in Kogi state as well, Governor Yahaya Bello recently took the bull by the horns and banished them from the state completely.
While on a trip to Okene Local Government Area of the state recently, he experienced gridlock due to roadblocks mounted by these illegal revenue collectors. The action governor did not only instruct his security men to clear the road, he ordered a total ban on such illegal roadblocks across the state
The governor alighted from his vehicle, condemned the activities of illegal tax collectors and ordered his security aides to supervise the removal of the roadblocks. By doing so, he made it possible for other road users to move freely.
The governor killed many birds with a stone. With that singular action, the multiplicity of taxes that people have to pay has reduced by one and also the needless chaos caused by roadblock is over forever. People can now move freely within the cities and villages without the needless harassment of the touts.
This is a bold move that other states facing the same challenge can emulate.
