The Bayelsa State Authorities has lamented the comparatively low degree of tax compliance within the state, blaming it for the state's poor internally generated income profile.
The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo, disclosed this when the Yenagoa and District Society of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria paid him a courtesy go to on the Authorities Home, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
In keeping with a report by the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics, Bayelsa raked in a complete of N15.9 billion in IGR in 2022.
In an announcement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi, on Wednesday, Ewhrudjakpo was quoted as saying that he frowned on the poor perspective of companies and people within the state in the direction of tax cost, including that the state authorities was battling the problem of taxation in its pursuit . to extend the IGR of the state.
He identified that Bayelsa's month-to-month IGR is at present lower than 20 p.c of the state's income, and known as on the CITN to assist the federal government unfold the message of taxation by way of its public enlightenment packages.
Stating that governments all over the world depend on taxes to cowl public expenditure on utilities and companies, Ehwrudjakpo burdened that the “entitled” mentality amongst Bayelsans was largely answerable for the issue.
He thanked the members of the CITN for elevating the problem and famous that the federal government was able to work with the institute to enhance the state's IGR.
The deputy governor mentioned: “As a authorities, we’ve needed to cope with taxes. I’m glad that you just raised the problem of public lighting. The issue with our state is that this “entitlement mentality,” the place individuals count on the federal government to do all the things for them; individuals see paying taxes as a forbidden fruit.
“Our IGR from tax cost is lower than 20 p.c of the state income. So assist us unfold the gospel of taxation. Governments everywhere in the world rely upon taxes. Greater than 80 p.c of Britain's earnings comes from taxes.
“The Federal Authorities has lately launched synthetic intelligence in tax evaluation and monitoring, so the CITN ought to reply to this. We stand able to work with you to see how we will enhance our IGR.”
Earlier, the Chairman of Yenagoa and District Society of CITN, Azebi Ayabeke, mentioned the go to was geared toward garnering extra help from authorities for the institute's public enlightenment packages on taxes.
Whereas expressing his gratitude to the federal government for supporting the actions of the group and donating 5 plots of land to the CITN within the Yenagoa central enterprise district, he pledged the establishment's continued help for the insurance policies and packages of the present authorities. .
