Review Nigeria’s tax laws, Oshiomhole tells FG

A former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has called for a review of the Nigeria’s tax laws for an effective tax administration.

Mr. Oshiomole, also a former President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the call at the 26th Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.

The lecture was entitled, “Crisis of Governance, Governance of Crisis: The Role of Education in Nibbling Governance Crisis in Nigeria.”

He said the federal government must put necessary machinery in place to ensure that those who are expected to pay tax do so as and when due for improved infrastructural development of the country.

Mr. Oshiomhole regretted that the only group of people who pay tax regularly are salary earners whose taxes were deducted at source.

The former governor expressed disappointment that millions of taxable adults had devised means of evading tax.

“How do we justify tax payment because most people say why do we pay tax when they will steal the money, what are they doing with it? Look at the roads they are bad,” he said.

According to him, such statement were mere excuses as the first step to be taken is to pay the tax to get moral and legal right to demand the judicious use of the money by the government.

Mr. Oshiomhole urged the federal government to take a cue from the effective tax system of the Lagos State Government which had devised a means of identifying those who are expected to pay tax and ensure that they comply.

“The developmental strides and successes recorded in Lagos State is a result of proper tax collection and judicious use of the fund.

“Government must ensure that those who are at advantage pay their taxes and the fund generated should be used to deliver infrastructure for those who are at disadvantaged and everyone.

“You can’t expect good roads, water and other social amenities if you don’t pay tax; once you pay then you can begin to probe the authorities and demand accountability for your money,” he said.

On the rights of the citizens, Mr. Oshiomhole noted that the logic of democracy enables citizens to have not only the weapon to vote once in four years, but to “police and interrogate” those they voted for in between the elections.

In his remarks, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State lauded the former governor for honouring the invitation of the state polytechnic and expresses optimism that he would do justice to the lecture.

Mr. Ambode, represented by Abdullateef Abdulakeem, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, described him as a ‘protagonist and an antagonist’.

He said the role played by Oshiomhole in crisis management as a labour leader and governor negotiating potential issues with government and in government could not be overemphasised.

The Rector of the institution, Samuel Sogunro, noted that government was all about service delivery and once it fails at any level, the entire society would be affected, stressing the need for transparency in governance.

Mr. Sogunro said education in governance was key and if ignored could lead to crisis in governance because “education is the nation’s bulwark.”