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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Tax overload has been identified as a key factor that stagnates the economy of Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers states.
This was identified during a workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) in collaboration with the Tax Justice & Governance Platform in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers states, with support from OXFAM.
The workshop aimed at facilitating a levy-free movement of goods between the states, was themed, “Unlocking economic prosperity in the Niger Delta: Facilitating trade, Agriculture and Tax Policies.”
Key findings from the engagement indicates among others that excessive taxation and illegal levies at entry/exit points drive economic stagnation, discouraging business and hindering goods movement.
A communique signed by Dr. Harry Udoh, William Itorok and Dr. Kelechi Ameachi, the Tax Justice and Governance Platform Coordinators for Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers states, respectively, as well as Ayomide Victor Omowu, Programme Manager for CISLAC, highlighted steps to end the practice.
The communique mandated political leaders in the three focal states to prioritise economic growth and work with civil society to ensure it is effectively and sustainably achieved and realised.
“All institutional, policy instruments and legal loopholes/bottlenecks that hinder the effective implementation of the ease of doing business programme should be removed through appropriate legislation and the enactment of relevant policies that will enact its success.
“Political leaders in the focal states should strengthen economic cooperation and promote the ease of doing business in order to foster economic development in the region.
“It also recommended the implementation of harmonised tax policies and also that all multiple taxes, illegal levies and charges are removed to make the process of economic cooperation seamless and effective,” the communique stated.
The workshop marked a milestone in advocacy efforts to foster economic cooperation and ease of doing business in the three states and a memorandum of understanding was also developed to promote economic cooperation.
