Address issue of multiple taxation, Sanusi tells JTB

Muhammadu Sanusi

Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja

THe Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called on the Joint Tax Board to address the problem of multiple taxation in the country.

Sanusi made the call when the Chairman of the JTB, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, led the 36 chairmen of states’ boards of internal revenue on a courtesy call on the emir in Kano shortly after the 134th meeting of the board.

A statement issued by the JTB in Abuja on Monday stated that the emir also urged the tax authorities to simplify tax laws and continue to educate taxpayers on what taxes to pay, where and how to pay them.

Sanusi was quoted as saying, “People have always said that the Nigerian economy depends on oil. Oil contributes only 15 per cent to Nigeria‘s Gross Domestic Product. But the government is not looking at other sources so that those sectors will also contribute to growth in the country.

“I ask the people of Kano, every Nigerian to pay their taxes. The social services that government provides like roads, hospitals and schools are provided by taxes. There are a lot of people who believe that taxes are not Islamic. That is not correct.”

In his remarks, Fowler stated that with the support of the emir in advising his subjects to pay taxes, the revenue base from taxation would be increased.

He said, “We all know that the days of oil as our major source of income are long gone. With your instruction, with your understanding and encouragement, taxpayers in the North and in the South will continue to do the right thing.

“The commitment of the Kano State Government and its support in hosting this meeting show its determination to improve the payment of taxes and deepen tax administration.”