UNDERSTANDING THE REASON BEHIND THE N18,000.00 TAX COLLECTION BY ABIA GOVERNMENT
Just a few days ago, the media, (particularly, the social media) was awash with the reports that market women were protesting against N18,000 (eighteen thousand naira) tax, being collected yearly by Abia State government. These reports were churned out with the intention to discredit Abia State government led by Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D. I wouldn’t have uttered a word on this issue if not for the reactions of some traders I personally interacted with at Ariaria International Market during my savvy marketing exercise two days ago. The promoters of the story also wanted to spoil people’s minds about the government as well as incite the Abia electorates against the State government.
Following this report, the State government through the Abia State Internal Revenue Services Agency, the agency in charge of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) came up with explanation that needs to be understood by all and sundry. This is necessary because, in these days of social media, where everyone has become an emergency reporter and journalist, negative stories especially against government trend and go viral easily.
It is therefore important for both Market/Shop owners as well as the public to understand what the N18,000 is meant for. This would certainly help in putting the record straight. The N18,000 is an annual payment for the shop owners. The N18,000 is the N1,500 monthly expected to be paid by them; which is the N75 per day they pay for an average of 20 working days in a month. It is equally important to note that the N18,000 covers Personal Income Tax, ASEPA, Stallage, ABSAA, PPIDF and Fire Service fees payable by these individuals. And it covers all that the shop owners should pay for the year. Abia State government made it a consolidated bill in order to eliminate multiple agents and agencies going to the market and shop owners for one revenue or the other.
Prior to the decision of this consolidated fees, stakeholders in the market, including the ASMATA and all Market Chairmen took part in the discussion and agreed that the best way to collect the revenue was through the consolidation of all the fees payable by the shop owners. Also, in order to make the burden of the payments light, it was agreed with them that this N18,000.00 would be spread over six equal installments. Good a thing too, it is their market leaders that are mandated by the State government to collect the fees, this was to reduce friction among agents and traders. This payment of N18,000 is restricted to those traders in the shops while those not in the shops pay tolls.
Of course, government all over the world needs revenue to provide the needed infrastructure and other amenities to its people. In Abia State, it is crystal clear that the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu led administration has provided infrastructure and other amenities to the people in the last four years and is eager to do more. The Governor has fixed over 70 roads while others, including the first ever flyover are ongoing. Over 300 classroom blocks have been built for the public schools including model schools. Agricultural sector, trade & commerce as well as SME have received great boost. A lot has been done in the health and environmental sectors. Security of lives and property has been given needed attention.
In the forthcoming second tenure of Governor Ikpeazu, a lot has been mapped out by him to do. Key among those things to be done is completion of the ongoing works and projects and the realization of the Enyimba Economic City, which would employ over 700 thousand persons.
There is no way the State government could achieve its visions and plans without Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), hence the need for all to contribute their quota in that regard. Abia traders, who are witnesses to and beneficiaries of what the Governor has done should not allow those people who hate the development witnessed in the State under the able leadership of Governor Ikpeazu to deceive them. They should not allow themselves to be used by mischief makers to cause confusion in the State, especially in the markets. States like Lagos, Kano and even Anambra realize huge revenue from their markets and that helps them to boost their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Ours should not be different, more especially, as the State government through the State Internal Revenue Services Agency has agreed with the market people on the best way to go about the fees, every one is expected to comply.
As the second inauguration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is gradually approaching, all Abia people and residents are advised to sustain their support for the Governor as his second tenure has promised a lot of good things to the electorates who massively elected him for a second term. It is incumbent on all to jettison ideas and activities of those who are all out to distract the Governor through propaganda and falsehood. Believe in the Ikpeazu’s dreams and aspirations. It shall be well with Abia State. Together with Governor Ikpeazu, Abia must be great!
UNU,
A concerned Abia Citizen writes.
(newmanubani@yahoo.com)