Elechi Advises Tax Evaders To Repent

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has urged tax defaulters to desist from the act.

Elechi told newsmen recently in Abakaliki that the act was criminal and impeded development.

He said that it was regrettable that only few Nigerians paid taxes, adding that provisions of basic amenities in any state depended so much on availability of funds.

He noted that Nigeria’s over dependence on oil revenue was dangerous as the source could deplete anytime.

The governor recalled that in the First Republic “tax drive was stringent as one could not operate freely without tax receipts whether you are employed or not.

“Then there was no room for laziness but today only civil servants pay tax, politicians pay when they are about to face an election.

“Businessmen pay if they want to get import license. Otherwise we prefer to dodge,’’ he said.

Elechi said it was unfortunate that most Nigerians were leaving in affluence without labouring for it while some had gone ahead to abuse the money.

“Because money is flowing without us labouring for it, we abuse it so much in occasions such as naming ceremonies, birthday parties, marriages and funerals, among others,’’ he asserted.

According to him, it is therefore, not a surprise that the unemployed resort to armed robbery.