Chinedum Treasure
Women traders in some markets in Anambra North Senatorial District have called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to reduce into fees, levies and rates placed on traders, which have driven many of them out of market.
The women made the appeal during a sensitization campaign organized by Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP) for selected markets in the senatorial district at Onitsha Main Market under the Tax for Service (T4S) project, implemented in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC), with funding support by Oxfam Nigeria.
The project is aimed at bridging the gap and restoring trust between government and citizens, which had been identified as one of the reasons for tax apathy and uncooperative attitude of citizens towards their civic obligation.
The Woman Leader of Ochanja Central Market, Kate Uchebechi, regretted that too many payments being demanded from all traders are becoming unbearable for women traders. “The economy is bad already. Many of us have left market because they couldn’t cope”.
Another trader, Ogochukwu Okechi also noted, “Too many payments discourage women from entering into market. You pay for this and that and they keep coming. Let Governor Soludo reduce these burdens on us”.
The Woman Leader of Onitsha Main Market, Gracegodic Uchegbu, also lent her voice. “Instead of helping traders especially women to remain in business, they are killing our businesses with too many levies and rates. Let Federal and State governments give us loans to help our trade.
Other participants including Basil Okeke, Mr Emeka Boniface, and Emeka Onwuka, regretted that despite the various levies on them, there is a wrong notion in government circle that traders don’t pay taxes.
“Government should sanitize the system to make tax payment easy for people. There is no pipe borne water from government. Power supply is epileptic. What exactly is government doing with the taxes,?” Basil Okeke queried.
“We struggle to do whatever we are doing. They ask to pay everywhere and every time. It looks that government is suppressing the citizens,” Emeka Boniface bemoaned.
Earlier, the chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha noted that interventions of the state government is changing things for good. Government has provided us with fire truck, primary health centre, and free internet connectivity. Work is going on New market road and that of Bida road has also been awarded. We submitted those needs through SIDEC two years ago.
“However, we need other things like toilet facilities and a befitting office for the market leadership. Last year, we generated 325 million to the state government from this market”.
A tax consultant, Dr Herbert Ofomata, had earlier educated the traders on the difference between levies, fees, and rates which most traders confuse as taxes, encouraging them to pay to enable government provide essential services to the citizenry.
“To be able to determine your tax accurately, you must keep every record of transactions. Many people don’t know how much they make weekly, monthly and annually and when assess you by itself, you complain it is unfair and too much”.
He advised the traders to key into the reforms being introduced by the state government especially the “no-cash directive” by the governor. “Governor said do not pay cash to anyone. Pay all monies directly through channels like mobile apps, POS, USSD or go to the banking hall or the tax office to pay.
Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre, SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike, advocated for a gender-inclusive revenue collection system and inclusion of women in market leadership. “Persons with disabilities are practically denied access to our markets because they inaccessible.
“Nursing mothers go through difficulties coping with business transactions and their babies because there are no creches within the markets where they can keep their babies. We want government to address these and other critical needs of the markets.
The sensitization also featured a presentation by a member of TJ&GP, Arthur Iwuanya, on the essence of charter of demands, how to prepare it and how to submit it to the government, as well as road show during which traders in various parts of Onitsha main market are enlightened on their rights and obligations under the tax law of the state.
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