PRESS RELEASE: Enugu State Tax Justice Platform Met With Traders; Revenue Officers and others.

The Tax justice and Governance Platform Enugu State on thursday 25th January 2023, held a one day planning meeting with State, LGA Revenue Officers from Aninri, Udi and Oji- River. The objective of the meeting was to design a workable strategies to embark on massive sensitization in markets and communities on fair tax system and compliance in Enugu State.
The meeting was attended revenue officers from Udi and Oji River LGAs, representative of the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and planning, Finance, representative from SMEDAN, Market Association Chairmen and Secretaries, the Media and CSOs/NGOs
Among the Issues raised and discussed include multiple taxation, over tax burden on the citizens, issue of harmonization of taxes and levies and the taken over of revenue collection in the LGAs by the State government.
Communique reached:
At the end of the deliberations, the following resolutions were taken:
– 1 Market sensitization in major markets ( Ugwuoba Cattle Markets, 9th mile markets etc) to commenced from 7th February, 2024.
– Advocacy visits /meetings targeted at the LGAs to be done at the state level since the state has taken over the markets.
– Audience / letter for advocacy with the governor of Enugu State to be written through the SSG, copy finance, BIR, Budget and planning.
– Advocacy briefs and press release written and aired in the radio stations.
– Advocacy team selected to include, the media, SMEDAN, Market heads and CSO/ NGOs.
– Informed media engagements, through radio, print media and blog publications.
– Enhance partnership between the market leaders, Enugu State Tax Justice Platform, and the media.
– Deepen advocacy on the abusive use of tax contractors against Local Government Revenue Officers and digitized tax platforms.
– Demand for reformed tax policy; recommendation of progressive tax system to address the current economic reality.
– Improve transparency and accountability in tax collection at the local markets/ informal sector of the economy.
– Demand for tax ombudsman with aim to address issues of illegal tax collectors and human rights abuse by tax contractors.