On International Women’s Day, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a non-governmental organisation has called on the Federal Government to increase tax revenue allocation for gender responsive social services.
#BalanceforBetter is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which is observed each year on March 8.
The 2019 initiative is aimed at gender equality, a greater awareness of discrimination and a celebration of women’s achievements, according to the International Women’s Day website.
That includes reducing the global pay gap between men and women and making sure all are equal – and balanced – in activist movements, boardrooms and beyond.
The day is a public holiday in some countries and largely ignored elsewhere.
In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.
Mrs. Ene Obi, AAN Country Director made the call in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Obi said there was need for the government to prioritise gender – just, progressive and transformative tax policies and improved funding and fulfillment of Women’s Rights.
She said if done, it would reduce unfair tax burdens on women, increase allocation of tax revenues for gender responsive social services and ensure tax and fiscal policies were recognised.
She also called on the Federal Government to put policies and systems in place to stop tax abuses by multinational corporations and as well remove gender bias and discrimination in tax policies.
“Multinational corporations are systematically avoiding and evading taxes, by abusing weaknesses within the national tax system.
“And these abuses comprise a large part of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), resulting in hundreds of billions of Naira in lost public revenues every year.
“ These potential public revenues could and should have been used by government at all levels to provide economic and social services and infrastructures that are urgently needed to address inequalities.