There is no doubt that the present financial meltdown is affecting countries of the world including Nigeria. This has created a situation where governments have to look inward to raise the needed fund to finance their projects.
Just as the financial meltdown is affecting the governments, the same way its also affecting the citizens. Should the government, in this case, Edo state government, add to the hardship the people are already suffering from by imposing on them, high taxes?
While I agree to the fact that people must pay their taxes, especially now that we have peoples government in place, led by the Comrade, these taxes must have human face.
It dose not really matter the nature of the tax, the most important thing is that it is judiciously put into use. In abroad, they pay high taxes, the people don't feel it much because thy are seeing the value and what thier taxes are doing for them. Now that we have the peoples Govenor, I pray these taxes are put into good use for the benefit of the people.
The current financial meltdown is one reason I will not support the government inreasing (or appropriately taxing) the people now. Why? Because when there was no financial meltdown, only political office holders enjoyed the windfall. Now that the economic wind has fallen them, they should also bears the pains of the fall. However, because Comrade Adams Oshiomhole was not a part of the thieving crowd then, one tends to sympathize with him. He has enormous responsibilities to carry out and the money appears not to be there too much. These responsibilities are essentially the just expectations of the people. But, I feel he has started the new tax regime too early. He should have followed the example of Fashola of Lagos State ie start something first and let the people see, then show the people his financial predicament and watch the people rally round him. Afterall, we voted for him to improve things and if money is to be the problem, it is our duty to ensure he has money to use. Right now, his administration appears to be full of sound and fury signifying nothing. But our prayers for his success are with him.
-- Edited by ebadeleke on Thursday 21st of May 2009 09:32:07 AM
Generally, no person wants to part away with his/her money hence the restiveness towards the new tax regime in Edo state. I think what matters most is how the money collected as tax is put into use. If the people of Edo state (and indeed Nigeria) can see their tax money being put into judicious use in providing roads, healthcare delivery, water, electricity, affordable housing etc, the people will be more than willing to pay their taxes. However, what we have seen over the years is that tax monies end up in private pockets of some unscrupulous government officials. Similarly, taxes have always being paid by the low in society while those in high positions/the rich in society do not pay tax. For effective tax system in Edo state, the Adams Oshiomole government must ensure that all taxable adults, companies and institutions pay adequate tax and in response, the government must be transparent in its expenditure and ensure meaningful development that would affect the people of Edo state positively. The Oshiomole government might as well take a queue from what Babatunde Fashola is doing with the taxpayers' money in Lagos state.
where the oshiomole government introduce tax in edo state many people were it. now that the people know that money paid by oshiomole government is not lost they are all happy about the tax.
the people should not be subjected to another hardship, it had already be meted on them by past leaders.. i strongly believed that the government of Edo state have the well wither to pilot the affair of the state in this period of economic melt.. i do not support to the ideal of tax increment ... the people need to be compensated for what they had gone through in the pass .so i here by advise the government to do all they can to move out of this melt down.... thank eghosa-osawe junior
