TUC Cautions RVHA On MultipleTaxation

The Move by the Rivers
State House of Assembly to reintroduce the controversial social service levy and any other new tax on workers may not go well with the workers in the state following the harsh economy, the Rivers State Chairman of the Trade Union Congres,Comrade Chika Onuegbu has warned.
Onuegbu, who who gave the warning in Port Harcourt on Wednesday 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 said workers position on the outlawed social services levy is very clear.
According to him, the workers resisted it under Governor Chibuike Amaechi and shall also resist it under the present government if attempt is made to reintroduce the bill or pass the law.
He also reminded the lawmakers that a court has ruled against that law and similar laws describing them as “ double taxation”.
“It is important to state that the TUC Rivers State and her affiliate never paid the social services contributory levy and we were also not part of its board. In similar way, we shall resist the planned imposition of additional hardship on workers through the introduction of additional taxes’’,he said.
Onuegbu said the state government is bound by the Taxes and Levies ( Approved list for collection) Act, advising that the Rivers State House of Assembly should avoid unnecessarily heating up the polity and focus on making laws that will improve the welfare of ordinary people of Rivers State.
The Tide learnt that the reintroduction of social levy tax was one of the bills that scaled the first reading last Monday.
The leader of the House, Hon Martins Amaewhule said the House would not pass law that business operators would pay double, stating that, they lawmakers are ensuring that taxes meant for the state are collected.
Hon Amaewhule assured that the House would do everything possible to encourage investors in the state.