Kwara tax policy causing untold hardship
on residents, shop owners โ IEDPU
A socio-cultural group, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has alleged that the current tax regime of the Kwara State Government is imposing untold hardship on residents and shop owners in the state.
Speaking at the 52nd Annual Conference of IEDPU held at the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin on Monday, the union’s President, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, lamented that the tax system was too harsh on the people and urged the state government to give its taxation policy a human face.
Adi particularly frowned at the use of consultants from outside the state to drive the tax policy of the government, which it noted was at the economic detriment of the citizens.
”Once again, we call on Kwara State Government to give its taxation policy a human face as it is causing untold burden and avoidable hardship for our people. Payment of it is a primary responsibility of citizen because government needs it to provide facilities to the citizens. However, it should be made payer โor citizen โfriendly.
”The use of consultants by government on surface is not a bad idea, but if the negative side of it is more than the positive aspect, then it is good to go as a policy. Kwara state government should not through acts of omission or commission ,engage consultants from outside the state to the economic detriment of citizens of the state .It is like cutting ones nose to spite one’s face. Any policy which does not empowers the people ought to be thrown to the waste basket immediately,โ he said.
The IEDPU President also charged the newly inaugurated local government chairmen, particularly those from Kwara Central, to accord the welfare of local government workers top priority.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki assured the people of the state of a new lease of life in the coming year.
Saraki, who was was represented at the occasion by a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said he was aware of the economic hardship the people of the state were going through saying it would fizzle out in the New Year.
Similarly, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed praised the IEDPU for its various skill and entrepreneurship under which several youths have been provided with vocational training.
He said to ensure that the training they have received is beneficial, the state government would provide the beneficiaries with SME funding to allow them start or expand their businesses.
”To ensure their training is beneficial, government will provide these youths with SME funding ,on the phased basis, in order to start or expand their businesses .This is the most reliable empowerment we can provide them with,” the governor said.
In his lecture, a retired Grand Kadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Soliu Olohuntoyin Muhammad, declared that some perpetrators of ritual killings in parts of Ilorin, the state capital were not bona fide natives of the ancient city as being speculated.
Muhammad disclosed that verifiable facts at his disposal indicated that the suspects were either dislodged from Lagos, Osun or Ogun states but sneaked into Ilorin without anyone noticing their illicit affairs.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari called for unity among the people of the emirate for progress and development to thrive in the area and Kwara at large.
untold hardship
on residents, shop owners โ IEDPU
A socio-cultural group, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), has alleged that the current tax regime of the Kwara State Government is imposing untold hardship on residents and shop owners in the state.
Speaking at the 52nd Annual Conference of IEDPU held at the Emir’s Palace, Ilorin on Monday, the union’s President, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, lamented that the tax system was too harsh on the people and urged the state government to give its taxation policy a human face.
Adi particularly frowned at the use of consultants from outside the state to drive the tax policy of the government, which it noted was at the economic detriment of the citizens.
”Once again, we call on Kwara State Government to give its taxation policy a human face as it is causing untold burden and avoidable hardship for our people. Payment of it is a primary responsibility of citizen because government needs it to provide facilities to the citizens. However, it should be made payer โor citizen โfriendly.
”The use of consultants by government on surface is not a bad idea, but if the negative side of it is more than the positive aspect, then it is good to go as a policy. Kwara state government should not through acts of omission or commission ,engage consultants from outside the state to the economic detriment of citizens of the state .It is like cutting ones nose to spite one’s face. Any policy which does not empowers the people ought to be thrown to the waste basket immediately,โ he said.
The IEDPU President also charged the newly inaugurated local government chairmen, particularly those from Kwara Central, to accord the welfare of local government workers top priority.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki assured the people of the state of a new lease of life in the coming year.
Saraki, who was was represented at the occasion by a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Kawu Baraje, said he was aware of the economic hardship the people of the state were going through saying it would fizzle out in the New Year.
Similarly, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed praised the IEDPU for its various skill and entrepreneurship under which several youths have been provided with vocational training.
He said to ensure that the training they have received is beneficial, the state government would provide the beneficiaries with SME funding to allow them start or expand their businesses.
”To ensure their training is beneficial, government will provide these youths with SME funding ,on the phased basis, in order to start or expand their businesses .This is the most reliable empowerment we can provide them with,” the governor said.
In his lecture, a retired Grand Kadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Soliu Olohuntoyin Muhammad, declared that some perpetrators of ritual killings in parts of Ilorin, the state capital were not bona fide natives of the ancient city as being speculated.
Muhammad disclosed that verifiable facts at his disposal indicated that the suspects were either dislodged from Lagos, Osun or Ogun states but sneaked into Ilorin without anyone noticing their illicit affairs.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu- Gambari called for unity among the people of the emirate for progress and development to thrive in the area and Kwara at large.
