Effective from Nov 27

Edo State Government has further reduced by 75% the annual levies, rates and dues paid by traders across the 18 local governments in the state.

This was sequel to series of appeal by the traders to government over the high amount hitherto imposed on them.

The state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu who is also chairman of the state tax harmonization committee, made the declaration at the Government House, Benin shortly after a meeting between the committee and executives of Coalition of Oredo Traders.

While giving a break down of the reduction, Shaibu explained that the traders will now pay 12 thousand naira as against 50 thousand naira for medium sized stores while small sized stores which hitherto paid 25 thousand naira will now pay 8 thousand naira per annum as yearly dues.

He further explained that the reduction was the outcome of series of meetings held between the traders and the government at the end of which Governor Godwin Obaseki directed that the dues must not be too high to be burden on the people. According to the Deputy Governor, “the implication is that the medium sized shops will pay 1000 naira per month while the smaller shops pay about 750 naira. This is in accordance with the directive of Mr Governor that we should tax with human face and ensure taxation does not become a burden on the people in our quest to improve the finances of the local governments to make them viable.

“We want to have a local government system that will complement the development of the state government. We want a local government that will be able to pay salaries and pensions and at the same time construct roads, hospitals and provide other basic facilities to make life comfortable to the people.”

The Deputy Governor appealed to the traders to cooperate with the enforcers to reciprocate government's gesture as it will be deploying the same technology used by the state in the collection of revenues, saying that “the Governor has insisted that we upgrade the local government in terms of finances as we use the same technology deployed by the state to improve its finances and block all areas of leakages.”
He however announced that the implementation would begin on Monday, November 27, 2017 warning that the law against tax defaulters would be fully enforced.
http://www.edoinsafehands.com/2017/11/edo-govt-cut-dues-levies-rates-by-75_18.html?m=1

Wisdom has prevailed
Hope Afonjas are learning from the ancestral neighbors.?