The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to refrain from shifting more economic burdens on Nigerians through unnecessary and multiple taxation.
This followed the adoption of a motion on urgent public importance moved by Rep. Peter Aniekwe and co-sponsored by the House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda and four others at the plenary on Thursday.
Presenting the motion, the lead sponsor said the current economic situation of the country, characterised by rising inflation, unemployment, and the increasing cost of living, had led to widespread hardship for the masses.
He said, “The imposition of multiple taxes, levies, and charges at various levels of government only serves to exacerbate the financial strain on citizens, particularly those in low-income brackets, many of whom are already struggling to meet basic needs such as food, healthcare, housing, and education.
“The introduction of additional and sometimes unnecessary taxes, including consumption taxes, service taxes, and levies on essential goods and services, places an undue burden on the masses, further widening the inequality gap.
“While taxation is necessary for government revenue, a balance must be struck between revenue generation and the economic well-being of citizens, particularly at a time when many families and businesses are still recovering from the economic impact of global and local challenges.
“The government’s primary responsibility is to alleviate the economic challenges faced by the masses, ensuring policies that promote economic development, social welfare, and prosperity for all citizens”.
The House adopted the motion and urged the federal government and other relevant authorities to be sensitive to the plight of the masses by reviewing current tax policies to prevent the imposition of unnecessary and multiple taxes, particularly on essential goods and services.
It urged the federal government to consider alternative revenue generation strategies such as widening the tax net to capture more high-income earners, strengthening enforcement of existing tax laws, and plugging leakages in the system; exploring measures to increase export of cash crops and agricultural produces;
It mandated the committees on Finance and FIRS to within three weeks conduct a thorough review of existing tax laws and policies to streamline tax collection processes and eliminate redundant or overlapping taxes that contribute to the financial burden on citizens, identify areas of double taxation at all levels to provide relief to citizens without jeopardizing government revenue targets.
The House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to oversee the manifestation of the resolutions herein.
