Business
Group Advocates Fair, Equitable Tax System
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), an
NGO, last week advocated for a fair, transparent and equitable tax system to
protect the rights and interest of Nigerians.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Malam Auwal Rafsanjani,
said in Abuja that a progressive tax regime would control evasion by
multinationals.
According to him, paying attention to relationship between
tax, social inequality and resource mobilisation is a key for national
development and accountability in governance.
He said there were bottlenecks within the ministries,
departments and agencies that needed to be reviewed as part of an effective tax
system reforms.
“The dearth of data base and technical staff at the revenue
office contribute immensely to the inefficiency of tax system in the country, “
he said.
Rafsanjani said the country’s inability to adapt
international best practice in domestic taxation and monitoring of business
transactions had led to huge loss of revenues.
He said insufficient awareness and involvement of citizens
in the taxation process had contributed to the non-existence of active
citizenry demanding for accountability from government.
“There are leakages within the tax system in Nigeria that
reduce the amount of actual tax available to finance development and provide
service to the citizens, “ Rafsanjani said.
He expressed willingness of the organisation to embark on
sensitisation and creation of tax awareness among citizens at all levels, to
improve their knowledge on the system.
“We at the level of CISLAC are doing our best to sensitise
Nigerians on their rights in taxation and encouraging them to be patriotic
citizens to discharge their civil duties.
“If you contribute money, you should insist to know how such
money is being spent, this will promote transparency and accountability between
the leaders and masses. “
He stressed the need for advocacy, campaign and lobbying for
abolition of harmful and regressive tax practices and adoption of pro-poor tax
regimes.
Rafsanjani said that partnership and engagement with the
media on tax justice in Nigeria was very crucial, adding that it would make
room for further sensitisation.
“It is very significant to mobilise citizens at all levels,
to develop positive attitudes to tax payment and demand accountability and service
delivery. “
Rafsanjani called on Nigerians, irrespective of their
personality and status, to be law abiding by paying tax when due.
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