…Urges FG to reconsider implementation
The Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) has declared that the new Federal Government Tax Law has created more avenues for a lack of accountability in governance in Nigeria.
NPSA particularly said that considering the totality of governance environment, especially the self-serving orientation of most Nigerian politicians, the government has put the cart before the horse with the new Tax Law.
While faulting the federal government’s new Tax Law, the NPSA, noted that its implementation would impact negatively on many Nigerians.
It stressed that the ideal approach would have been to cut the government’s obscene expenditure and rejuvenate the economy before considering an expansive tax net that would affect all.
These were contained in a statement by Professor Hassan Saliu, national President of the Association in which he emphasised that the idea of warehousing the collections in organisations that are already juggling a lot of responsibilities, without regard for the dangers involved, lends credence to public concerns about the aftermath of the collections.
NPSA further said; “How can any Nigerian avoid the petroleum tax? Also, the taxes imposed on withdrawals will ultimately be passed on to ordinary Nigerians. These are issues being downplayed by apostles of the taxes.
“The commencement of the taxes can lead to a cascading effect, where taxpayers are subjected to multiple tax burdens, notwithstanding the contrary argument advanced by promoters of the new tax law, stifling economic growth and discouraging investment,” it said.
The NPSA also highlighted some aspects of concern in the new tax law, including issues of multiple taxation, which it insisted remain a longstanding challenge in Nigeria’s tax system.
It further said; “Every tax withdraws money from people’s pockets, and with the new law, no one can escape its net. Moreover, in an environment lacking adequate accountability mechanisms, this could exacerbate the problem”.
