Date Published: 11/22/10

PHCCIMA Faults Multiple Taxation in R/S
…Urges RSHA On Ratification Of Committee Report

Engr. Vincent Furo, President PHCCIMA

The President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Engr. Vincent Furo has faulted the manner in which some local governments in the state engage in revenue drive, especially concerning the issue of multiple taxation.

Engr. Furo made this observation while speaking to newsmen on the effect of multiple taxation on the people and on the internally generated revenue of the state.

He stressed that tax must be legal hence, effort should be made to ensure that the negative effect of revenue drive of the respective local governments are put to check- especially with the attendant menace of the use of illegal revenue agents and quack consultants who indulge and promote multiple taxation and rates.

Hear him “Multiple taxation can only mean one thing; that it is illegal, and obviously in contrast with Government tax that is well defined. A situation where touts purporting themselves as tax agents harass, intimidate and swindle the unsuspecting public and companies of their hard earned cash in the name of revenue agents is unacceptable” he said.

The PHCCIMA president disclosed that he is a member of a committee set up by government and headed by the Attorney General of the state to look into multiple taxation. The committee according him has since submitted its report to the government who in turn has sent same to the state house of Assembly for ratification. Regrettably he said the state assembly is yet to finally expedite action on its review and eventual ratification.

He advised that we must continue to pressure to ensure that the menace of multiple taxation is brought to an end. The PHCCIMA boss opined that people are ignorant of their right hence, they allow themselves to fall prey to the antics of these touts and revenue agents. He further condemned the police force for aiding and abetting these touts in perpetrating their illegal trade and called on relevant authorities of the force to call their men to order and also ascertain the legality of such revenue drives before releasing their men.

“This money doesn’t even get to the coffers of the state government but into some illegal pockets, thereby denying government major revenues, and the unsuspecting public their hard earned cash. The organised private sector is not left out as some businesses are forced to shut down while others operate in secrecy and unnoticed to avoid constant harassment by touts. The end result is that companies now evade tax at the detriment of the state government” he averred.

Further speaking the PHCCIMA helmsman noted that the chamber is in support of codification of taxes to help tax payers and government access to relevant information, maintaining that the people must endeavour to pay their tax timely but must resist multiple taxation by these agents. He also advised Local government chairmen who feign they are not aware of the activities of these revenue agents in their local government areas to step up effort by setting up a monitoring task force to absolve themselves of blame and save the people from the clutches of these fraudulent touts.

Engr. Furo who observed that the world has gone beyond the era of demanding for tax violently, advised that government should explore other lawful avenues like writing to companies who on refusal should be taken to court to recover their money as stipulated by the law. On where to pay your tax, he advised that all taxes should be paid at the inland revenue office, urging people to stop patronising and heeding to the so called revenue agents.

It will be recalled that earlier in the week the President, CITN, Mr. Kunle Quadri, has agreed that the activities of local governments had remained a clog in the wheel of revenue generation. He observed that taxing reforms at the federal and state levels without similar ones at the local government level would not yield the necessary results.