‘RVHA Won’t Revisit Social Services Bill’

The Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martins Amaewhule has clarified that the assembly was not considering reintroducing the Social Services Contributory Level Bill that was quashed by a competent law court during the last administration.
Amaewhule, who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency 1, made the clarification when he appeared as a guest on 92.3 NigeriaInfo FM programme “HARD FACTS” in Port Harcourt, said the bill before the hallowed chamber was the Rivers State Taxes and Levies Miscellaneous Provision Bill, and Hotel Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Bill 2016.
He also said that the two executive bills will not in any way aid multiple taxation in the state, but were seeking to regulate and ensure the collection of taxes in the state.
According to him, ’’the Rivers State Taxes And Levies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2016, when passed, will among other things, empower the government to assess, impose and collect any and all taxes, dues, levies, fees or other revenues listed or mentioned to be collected by states.
‘’The bill is also expected to regulate taxes and levies from time to time and it will be administered by the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service’’, he said.
The lawmaker also noted that the Rivers State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Bill, 2016, when operational, will impose tax on goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants and event centres within the territory of Rivers State.
“The bill, which has six parts and 21 sections, may be cited as the Consumption Tax Law of Rivers State when passed into law, and would ensure that every hotel, restaurant and event centre within the territory of Rivers State, is registered with the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service’’.
But some residents and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State have opposed the bill, and cautioned the legislators against the reintroduction of other taxes.
The Tide learnt that the bills tagged: “Rivers State Taxes And Levies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016” and “Rivers State Hotel Occupancy And Restaurant Consumption Bill 2016”, respectively, when passed into law, will empower the state government to impose and collect levies, taxes, dues and other revenues in line with the Federal Government’s listed revenues, as well as impose taxes on goods and services consumed in the hospitality business.
Amaewhule stated that the Rivers State Hotel Occupancy And Restaurant Consumption Bill, 2016, when it becomes operational will impose tax on goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants and event centres within the territory of Rivers State.
However, the state chapter of Trade Union Congress has also condemned the move by the Rivers State House of Assembly to reintroduce the controversial social service levy and any other new tax on workers.
The state Chairman, TUC, Chike Onuegbu, who gave the warning, also cautioned the Rivers State House of Assembly against reintroduction of the controversial Rivers State social services levy and any other new tax on workers.
He said workers’ position on the outlawed social services levy was very clear, and would at all times resist it.