Kobojunkie:

lol

I mean every single word here. It is just not about contributing to a thread, but thinking, and saying it the way it is. That guy really annoyed me with his contribution. Latest trend now is almost like stop and search. You can be in your business premises, and some thugs will just jump out of a vehicle, and sweep at a particular roll of shops, asking for tax for every taxable thing. I KNOW THAT VERY SOON, THEY WILL ASK FOR "ATMOSPHERE TAX". You will pay for the Oxygen being used in Lagos, because one guy wants to plant flowers in Lagos, and buy more BRT buses that are almost like Molues now. Today in Lagos, both state and Federal are fighting for who collects Advert permit, either directly or indirectly. Even as telecom firms pays appropriate taxes to federal government, Lagos state government too is asking them to pay taxes for each installed mast in the state. That is the basis for this argument. DOUBLE TAXATION AND HIGH TAX RATE. It is too much. Nigerians are ready to pay taxes, so long the roads will be well tarred, the rail will function, and there will be enough vehicles for mass transit, ailing industries will work, and generally, people are made to be accountable for every kobo in the government coffers. We are tired of mono-economy, oil.

selingel:


I mean every single word here. It is just not about contributing to a thread, but thinking, and saying it the way it is. That guy really annoyed me with his contribution. Latest trend now is almost like stop and search. You can be in your business premises, and some thugs will just jump out of a vehicle, and sweep at a particular roll of shops, asking for tax for every taxable thing. I KNOW THAT VERY SOON, THEY WILL ASK FOR "ATMOSPHERE TAX". You will pay for the Oxygen being used in Lagos, because one guy wants to plant flowers in Lagos, and buy more BRT buses that are almost like Molues now. Today in Lagos, both state and Federal are fighting for who collects Advert permit, either directly or indirectly. Even as telecom firms pays appropriate taxes to federal government, Lagos state government too is asking them to pay taxes for each installed mast in the state. That is the basis for this argument. DOUBLE TAXATION AND HIGH TAX RATE. It is too much. Nigerians are ready to pay taxes, so long the roads will be well tarred, the rail will function, and there will be enough vehicles for mass transit, ailing industries will work, and generally, people are made to be accountable for every kobo in the government coffers. We are tired of mono-economy, oil.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=162579

Winners Emerge in LIRS Essay Contest
By Funmi Ogundare, 12.22.2009

Winners have emerged in the second edition of the essay competition, organised by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), as part of activities to mark the third Lagos State Taxation Stakeholders' Conference recently.   
Announcing the winners at the event held at the Expo Centre, Ocean View, Lagos, Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler said the six winners in the junior and senior secondary categories emerged from the 2,000 entries received from 300 public and private secondary schools in the state. 

Onengiye Amachree of Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere emerged winner in the senior secondary category.  The second and third positions went to Prowess Mayro Richard Chukwu of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere and Damilo Johnson of Western College, Yaba, respectively.

They all received the same prizes as winners in the junior category.
The topics for this year's essay competition for the junior secondary category was, 'Well equipped schools, good recreational centres, good hospitals, good roads, efficient transportation etc, tax payments make them possible' or 'All taxable adults should pay their taxes to ensure that Lagos State remains the centre of excellence as it becomes a mega city'. While the topic for the senior secondary category was 'Tax payments fund infrastructural development', or 'Good things don't come cheap. Prompt and accurate tax payment is vital to emerging Lagos'.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola admonished Nigerians to continue to pay their taxes so that they would continue to enjoy the social amenities such as that provided in the education sector by his administration. “Apart from the major road, rail and water infrastructural projects, education remains free, with free text books to make it work, classrooms are being built and school furniture provided on a large scale across the state.”

Master Amachree who emerged winner in the senior category thanked the state government for organising such forum, saying that it would enable students to know more about the essence of tax payment. He said he had to do a lot of research to be able to write on the topic and that his parents and teachers were also of immense help to him.

babapupa:

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=162579

Winners Emerge in LIRS Essay Contest
By Funmi Ogundare, 12.22.2009

Winners have emerged in the second edition of the essay competition, organised by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), as part of activities to mark the third Lagos State Taxation Stakeholders' Conference recently.   
Announcing the winners at the event held at the Expo Centre, Ocean View, Lagos, Executive Chairman of LIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler said the six winners in the junior and senior secondary categories emerged from the 2,000 entries received from 300 public and private secondary schools in the state. 

Onengiye Amachree of Aguda Senior Grammar School, Surulere emerged winner in the senior secondary category.  The second and third positions went to Prowess Mayro Richard Chukwu of Top Grade Secondary School, Surulere and Damilo Johnson of Western College, Yaba, respectively.

They all received the same prizes as winners in the junior category.
The topics for this year's essay competition for the junior secondary category was, 'Well equipped schools, good recreational centres, good hospitals, good roads, efficient transportation etc, tax payments make them possible' or 'All taxable adults should pay their taxes to ensure that Lagos State remains the centre of excellence as it becomes a mega city'. While the topic for the senior secondary category was 'Tax payments fund infrastructural development', or 'Good things don't come cheap. Prompt and accurate tax payment is vital to emerging Lagos'.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola admonished Nigerians to continue to pay their taxes so that they would continue to enjoy the social amenities such as that provided in the education sector by his administration. “Apart from the major road, rail and water infrastructural projects, education remains free, with free text books to make it work, classrooms are being built and school furniture provided on a large scale across the state.”

Master Amachree who emerged winner in the senior category thanked the state government for organising such forum, saying that it would enable students to know more about the essence of tax payment. He said he had to do a lot of research to be able to write on the topic and that his parents and teachers were also of immense help to him.

What has these got to do with topic of the thread? I guess you are one of the beneficiary of the tax system in Lagos. Remember, we are not against taxation, but the barbaric means of collection, the double taxation experienced, and the extreme high taxes, are what we are against. If you say, he is using the money for free education in Lagos, ask for Fashola, how much did he pay as school fees in Nigeria during his time? That is the answer!.

I have always cautioned people about praising the Fasola guy too much. The praise has gone into his head. He now sees himself as better than everybody. He thinks he can do no wrong. Awo the greatest Yoruba that ever lived did not cause us much pain like this. Fashola should not take Lagosians for granted. Else he will regret it. Those who care to can read the article I wrote on How Fashola can derail his second time chance on Saharareporters .com some months back. The article has to do with the land charges you people are talking about now. Many readers castigated me then. Many of them saw me as a PDP apologist. The trouble with with Fashola is that he sees Lagos and the people in it as one giant corporation. The man is not a politician. He will soon burn himself out. It will be a pity if he should let the PDP take over Lagos because of his insensitive policies.

fashola is really a thief.i know he is doing nothing,using the environment to eat.hope EFCC is watching him.he fustrates plans of THE FG for building of thier offices.lagos state is moving or is a socialist state.

Otobroto:


What has these got to do with topic of the thread? I guess you are one of the beneficiary of the tax system in Lagos. Remember, we are not against taxation, but the barbaric means of collection, the double taxation experienced, and the extreme high taxes, are what we are against. If you say, he is using the money for free education in Lagos, ask for Fashola, how much did he pay as school fees in Nigeria during his time? That is the answer!.

There's no need to get all bent up over nothing. What I posted clearly referenced taxes and the Governor making his case about taxes. Also, the topic of discussion clearly is about taxes and if for whatever reason, you find the info of no use to you, why not just move on, it's not like by force or I'm putting a gun to your head to read.

Lagos I believe is a capitalist state and if at the end of the day the state government made the wrong move about taxes, they'll feel it via the tax receipts, state bank account and business flight and make adjustment accordingly.  So far, developers have been getting away with absurd rental fees in the state, they basically over priced and over valued the real estate market. Even when the state wasn't taxing them, most of these developments charges well over 6-10 million naira a year and multiply that by 100 or more units/year then by ten years, were they giving the state a piece of the action? Of course not. The fact is, ask people to pay ten dollar tax and they'll still complain.

The fact that folks are here running mouth as if these useless developers gives a poo about you or the average Lagosian baffles me, they are not building their gated communities for you and me and we obviously can not afford them, their main targets are expats/multinationals, corrupt politicians, shady folks and they don't complain, they have more than enough money to throw at the developers. They've been making a killing for years and it's time for them to pay. When they build their expensive developments, they don't build their own roads, they don't build their own water works, sewage system, roads, erect their own street lights, they pass it on to the state.

These folks are building multi billion dollars properties every year and the state's yearly budget is only 2 billion dollars. How do you provide services for and look after 18 million people for just 2 billion dollars? How do you build roads, bridges, schools, run effective transportation system, waste management system, education system, health care system, maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure and still pay and maintain the state's civil service for just 2 million dollars?


The fact is, we see everyday what the state is doing with all the money and the state is a reference point in Nigeria and Africa in terms of development. We all know what the state was like just a little over 3 years ago. Other. states are sending their people to Lagos state for tutorials in development and public administration, Ghana and other African countries sent folks over.

Cross Rivers state's population is a little over 5 million and their budget for 2009 is 432 billion naira, more that Lagos state's budget with 18 million people and enormous service requirements, but look at the rate of development in Lagos state and Cross Rivers state, With just 5 million people and lower service demand in Cross Rivers, shouldn't that state be well ahead of Lagos in terms of development?

It's not by force to set up shop in Lagos state, the developers are free to go up north or east.

What do you all expect ? When you glorify a man as Fashola, it goes into his head. It has indeed sunk deep into him to think himself a messiah of some sort. The big issues are, where are the real social amenities ? Road extension and planting of flowers, fine. He's simply gone beserk with self pride and I T K(I too know) syndrome. Like also in My own state. My governor is manipulating the weaklings in the name of beautification. Like Fashola, he is also an arrogant man in disguise. They prove they know and they know nothing but their personal agenda.

They live on rhetorics and intimidation employing all crude tactics. The Tax in Lagos now is counter productive and silly. Government should be seen encouraging the private sector. They seem bent on killing this same vital sector. god help us in Nigeria. Obafemi Awolowo must be so angry in heaven

babapupa:


There's no need to get all bent up over nothing. What I posted clearly referenced taxes and the Governor making his case about taxes. Also, the topic of discussion clearly is about taxes and if for whatever reason, you find the info of no use to you, why not just move on, it's not like by force or I'm putting a gun to your head to read.

Lagos I believe is a capitalist state and if at the end of the day the state government made the wrong move about taxes, they'll feel it via the tax receipts, state bank account and business flight and make adjustment accordingly.  So far, developers have been getting away with absurd rental fees in the state, they basically over priced and over valued the real estate market. Even when the state wasn't taxing them, most of these developments charges well over 6-10 million naira a year and multiply that by 100 or more units/year then by ten years, were they giving the state a piece of the action? Of course not. The fact is, ask people to pay ten dollar tax and they'll still complain.

The fact that folks are here running mouth as if these useless developers gives a poo about you or the average Lagosian baffles me, they are not building their gated communities for you and me and we obviously can not afford them, their main targets are expats/multinationals, corrupt politicians, shady folks and they don't complain, they have more than enough money to throw at the developers. They've been making a killing for years and it's time for them to pay. When they build their expensive developments, they don't build their own roads, they don't build their own water works, sewage system, roads, erect their own street lights, they pass it on to the state.

These folks are building multi billion dollars properties every year and the state's yearly budget is only 2 billion dollars. How do you provide services for and look after 18 million people for just 2 billion dollars? How do you build roads, bridges, schools, run effective transportation system, waste management system, education system, health care system, maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure and still pay and maintain the state's civil service for just 2 million dollars?


The fact is, we see everyday what the state is doing with all the money and the state is a reference point in Nigeria and Africa in terms of development. We all know what the state was like just a little over 3 years ago. Other. states are sending their people to Lagos state for tutorials in development and public administration, Ghana and other African countries sent folks over.

Cross Rivers state's population is a little over 5 million and their budget for 2009 is 432 billion naira, more that Lagos state's budget with 18 million people and enormous service requirements, but look at the rate of development in Lagos state and Cross Rivers state, With just 5 million people and lower service demand in Cross Rivers, shouldn't that state be well ahead of Lagos in terms of development?

It's not by force to set up shop in Lagos state, the developers are free to go up north or east.

You baffle me how you analyse this issue. Lets look at it one by one. You said, because these guys have been making a kill for many years, they should be made to pay. You have betrayed yourself. You are obviously, a biased judge. Can you listen to yourself? I expected you to say that, now that there is a tax policy, these developers should be made to pay taxes. Not as in what you are saying here. You meant, since they have not been paying taxes before now, they should be made to pay huge taxes. That is not fair!.


People have every right to make their own contribution. It is not your own duty to insult people.

I think the issue here is that the tax and levies imposed on the citizens are becoming excessive. Ltet me cite my personal experience: A client of mine bought a piece of land of just two plots about twenty years ago. Later it wa discovered that the land had previously been acquired by the government but later released. The State governmnet then called for the ratification of the title under the Regularization of Titles scheme.

This regularization involved conducting a new survey plan becuase your old survey plan will not be accepted for the Land Information. I thought no problem. How much is syrvey! I contacted my land surveyor who then showed me a schedules of fees by the State, prohibiting surveyors from collecting less than 80k per plot for surveys! In some places, it is as much as 200k, depending on the area. Grudgingly, I paid and got the survey. I paid for Land Informatyion which took some time.

I went to the Stamp duty office in Ikeja to access the amount payable as stamp duty and got a shocker of my life. My client will have to pay about N140,000 for stamp duty and another N120,000 for his personal tax. I protested that my client is a Pastor and had previously paid tax to the State government, with his tax certificate to show for it. Then, the man-in-charge graciously reduced the tax to about N60,000 just because my client is a man of God.

Stamp duty is just one of the steps you take to regularize your title. The whole sums, officially, come to 15% of the accessed value of ther land. (Gone are the days when the purchase price determines the amount to be paid. The State now has a pre-determined rate for every area of Lagos).There are so many sundry expenses that follow. In the long run, virtually all my clients who wanted to do the same thing in the same area have fizzled out, because of the excessive rates and taxes.

And the entire process is so rigourous and time wasting.

babapupa:


There's no need to get all bent up over nothing. What I posted clearly referenced taxes and the Governor making his case about taxes. Also, the topic of discussion clearly is about taxes and if for whatever reason, you find the info of no use to you, why not just move on, it's not like by force or I'm putting a gun to your head to read.

Lagos I believe is a capitalist state and if at the end of the day the state government made the wrong move about taxes, they'll feel it via the tax receipts, state bank account and business flight and make adjustment accordingly.  So far, developers have been getting away with absurd rental fees in the state, they basically over priced and over valued the real estate market. Even when the state wasn't taxing them, most of these developments charges well over 6-10 million naira a year and multiply that by 100 or more units/year then by ten years, were they giving the state a piece of the action? Of course not. The fact is, ask people to pay ten dollar tax and they'll still complain.

The fact that folks are here running mouth as if these useless developers gives a poo about you or the average Lagosian baffles me, they are not building their gated communities for you and me and we obviously can not afford them, their main targets are expats/multinationals, corrupt politicians, shady folks and they don't complain, they have more than enough money to throw at the developers. They've been making a killing for years and it's time for them to pay. When they build their expensive developments, they don't build their own roads, they don't build their own water works, sewage system, roads, erect their own street lights, they pass it on to the state.

These folks are building multi billion dollars properties every year and the state's yearly budget is only 2 billion dollars. How do you provide services for and look after 18 million people for just 2 billion dollars? How do you build roads, bridges, schools, run effective transportation system, waste management system, education system, health care system, maintain and upgrade existing infrastructure and still pay and maintain the state's civil service for just 2 million dollars?


The fact is, we see everyday what the state is doing with all the money and the state is a reference point in Nigeria and Africa in terms of development. We all know what the state was like just a little over 3 years ago. Other. states are sending their people to Lagos state for tutorials in development and public administration, Ghana and other African countries sent folks over.

Cross Rivers state's population is a little over 5 million and their budget for 2009 is 432 billion naira, more that Lagos state's budget with 18 million people and enormous service requirements, but look at the rate of development in Lagos state and Cross Rivers state, With just 5 million people and lower service demand in Cross Rivers, shouldn't that state be well ahead of Lagos in terms of development?

It's not by force to set up shop in Lagos state, the developers are free to go up north or east.

this guy is a blind loyalist to Fashola. also why tag law-abiding, tax-paying businessmen as scape-goats and as devils? they owe the state no duty to build its roads or hospitals or provide any public service whatsoever. they are trying to make a living and their contribution invaluble, provide employment and they deserve protection and security. they shouldn't pay absurd, excessive and criminal taxes. 400m for what? Fashola is a thieff!!!

Absolute crap from state governing council!

where else on planet earth is such rubbish done?

700john:

Absolute crap from state governing council!

where else on planet earth is such rubbish done?

In as much as I am not against taxation or Fashola himself, he should exercise caution.

PDP politicians and the greedy merchants in Lagos State should not come here to instigate us against Fashola. Tax invaders are used to making excessive profit from the state without putting something back. Now is pay time and they are crying to us to help them. NO NO let them pay.
If they make profits in billions their taxes should be in billions . Let us stop looking at what they are asked to pay but at what they make out of Lagos .
Some of them have never paid tax before . I pay tax from my little income, I am happy and proud to pay, more so I see my contributions effected and invested into the state.
I have been paying tax for the past years I have never been happy doing so as I am now when tax payers money is invested into the state
So my brother Go and pay your tax

Temin:

PDP politicians and the greedy merchants in Lagos State should not come here to instigate us against Fashola. Tax invaders are used to making excessive profit from the state without putting something back. Now is pay time and they are crying to us to help them. NO NO let them pay.
If they make profits in billions their taxes should be in billions . Let us stop looking at what they are asked to pay but at what they make out of Lagos .
Some of them have never paid tax before . I pay tax from my little income, I am happy and proud to pay, more so I see my contributions effected and invested into the state.
I have been paying tax for the past years I have never been happy doing so as I am now when tax payers money is invested into the state
So my brother Go and pay your tax

Did you take time to read this thread carefully? That is why you have been failing your exams, because you do not read very well before answering the questions thereafter. I will tell JAMB to lower their standard a little, so that, your kind of person will be admitted.

Finally, do me one favour, when you get to the University, please always read a question thoroughly, before attempting it. Failure will lead to expulsion, on the grounds of not being unfit to be their student. I will not be there to help the second time. BE WARNED. Before I forget, no one is saying people should not be made to pay taxes, but let the taxes have human face. That is the summary of the thread.

Read a thread before responding.

Temin:

PDP politicians and the greedy merchants in Lagos State should not come here to instigate us against Fashola. Tax invaders are used to making excessive profit from the state without putting something back. Now is pay time and they are crying to us to help them. NO NO let them pay.
If they make profits in billions their taxes should be in billions . Let us stop looking at what they are asked to pay but at what they make out of Lagos .
Some of them have never paid tax before . I pay tax from my little income, I am happy and proud to pay, more so I see my contributions effected and invested into the state.
I have been paying tax for the past years I have never been happy doing so as I am now when tax payers money is invested into the state
So my brother Go and pay your tax

what kind of dumbass nigga are you? the problem is not tax-paying, its excessive taxation on simple businessmen. it undermines the state's economy. maybe you are a stupiid communist.

It is very interesting that some of us can openly flaunt our conceit before intelligent audience. I wonder what kind of a man that has the moral rectitude to calls another a dumbass nigga.

Na wah!. Abeg forgive the guy. I think he went too far.

Kay 17:

what kind of dumbass nigga are you? the problem is not tax-paying, its excessive taxation on simple businessmen. it undermines the state's economy. maybe you are a stupiid communist.

Haba Bros!, it has not gotten to that. Do not call anyone such names.

selingel:


Haba Bros!, it has not gotten to that. Do not call anyone such names.

How can someone ever call a person, such a name?

I don't think Temin really understand the level of frustration in this our land. If he does, he would not be making his kind of statement. Fasola is growing too big for his shoes. At the rate he is going, I can guarantee that the sophisticated Lagos voters will dump him in like a useless baggage come 2011 if he does not retrace his steps. A word is enough for the wise. I hope he is one of them. Awo is regarded as the greatest Yoruba to walk this nation because of what he did. He did not kill us with taxes. I am a product of his school. I should know. Fasola has not done a fraction of what the great man did and people are already complaining about his agonizing tax regime. I beg make you trek softly o before you burn yourself out.

This thread has been very stimulating all this while, ljust dey read, -dey go!

First, where is that man now? (axeman85)?? I guess his broadband subscription has not been renewed in U.K
That "axeman85" was really a "confusionist". He is also not straight with his submissions.

if you go back to pages 2-3 of this thread, you will observe his contradictions, like when he claimed to be "An Account manager" for like six different Banks and Finance houses in U.K, then later, he claimed being "a Student" all this while, waiting to get some "Work Experience" so he can come back to Naija and "contribute". Also, remember he said he has not visited Naija in the last five years till this year. In all, he claimed to have pent like 5yrs in U.K and he rants about Council tax increases, e.t.c like someone who knows the in-and-out of U.K (like a real Shon-of-d shoil! )

Let me point out that all those his "effuzy" are fabrications.
Within your 5years sojourn so far in the U.K, you cant have worked for about 6 banks, as an Account manager (by the way, remove the manager from that title, may be you're just a bank clerical staff that handles customer 's accounts )
Combine your "Account managership" with your education, and you will see that your fabrications dont jell at all

In your argument, you should have gone the whole hog to inform people that in the U.K, they pay Tax and it is progressive such that depending on your level of income, it might be that at the end of the day, its the Govt that pays you Tax; in form of "Tax credits" or "Claw-back"! (They send you a separate cheque for the amount due back to you, at the end of the tax year)

If Govt wants to increase Tax, e.g VAT, there is always a robust debate over it at the "House" and we all know that a particular BBC channel is dedicated to broadcasting every minute of House-sittings so, the people are involved and pass their position on Tax matters to their properly elected Rep, who tables this and takes a position along that line in the House!

Like some have also said, Government in the U.K has various "soft-landing measures" in place to take care of the low income earners so as not to squeeze them out of existence with a harsh tax regime. Unemployment benefits, Maternity Benefits, Child-rearing benefits, Social Housing, Back-2-work allowance, Educational Grants, Back-2-School allowance, e.t.c., that serve to reduce and mitigate against the effect of crushing cost of living.
Lagos does not have all these so when you compare, please factor these "allowances" in.

From what l understand about this discussion, its about Taxing people at a rate that is sensible, affordable and in-tune with economic realities.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is a civic responsibility to pay ur tax, it is next to Godliness (Even Jesus paid his tax to Julius Ceaser, in biblical days!).

But like the son of king David, you can make tax a burden to the people!
That is what people are apprehensive about.
Fashola is trying but he needs to know that there is a limit to which you can "squeeze water out" of a cloth, after a threshold, that cloth will start tearing to pieces: We dont want that to happen in Lagos! Eko o'nibaaje O!!

As it is, any attendant cost increase in the production of any service/commodity, is and will be passed-on to the final consumers, the "tenant-citizens of lagos".
As long as Govt continue to raise its tax and charges on landed property, the Landlord/developer will continue to raise their price on rentable property: The govt will make money, the Landlord will probably make more money BUT the Ordinary Tenants (poor struggling people who we should all assist) will suffer and bear the brunt.
That my friends, is why it seems House rent and property prices in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos, seem to defy any known law of recession! No Turanshi, Walahi.

Since everybody can not build their own house, we all must come together to reduce "our charges" to make life bearable for ourselves.
From Govt charges on land acquisition, processing and documentation, to building and development levies, to cost of cement and other building materials, to labor charges by masons and other artisans, to erasing any "one year or multiple years" down payment on renting an accommodation.

Rent edict or any Govt Policy will be a failure when and if Govt itself is the "architect of this artificial inflation" in property matters.
I rest my case.

I fell for your contribution. It narrated it well, the way things should be done. Indeed, you are LASTPAGE. Shekinah!.

I am in no way in support of excessive taxation. My point is that people should be ready to pay tax. To whom much is given much is expected. The taxing system is progressive .It is tied to individual income.
A man who can afford to buy a 20 million car should never be reluctant to pat two hundred thousand naira as tax, for good roads and the other basics, while a man that can afford a Tokunbo car of six hundred thousand will be paying ten thousand.
In Singapore the government survives on sheeping yard and taxation and…. oh what a beautiful place. The more luxury you desire the more tax you pay. This alone inhibit corruption and avid pursuit for wealth because you know that if you are getting more than the basic then your tax will be more than the basic.
May be his scheme of introducing it is not proper, but then should we ask for a child’s head only because he broke a cup.

nice effort lastpage, @ temin, i do not mean to be irrational and insulting. it is natural for people in this country to be reluctant to pay taxes, because there is an unfailing track record that corruption would get the upper hand.

I agree with you Kay 17.
No one yet, wants to shoot themself in the face".
If people see where "you" spend their money, they would think twice before trying to dodge Tax payment.
If anyone thinks Europeans/Americans like paying Tax, they better think twice BUT they pay because:

1.) They can see where it is being spent and it affects their lives positively.
2.) The Tax is reasonable and would naturally not kill you, if we are to be honest.
2.) Since there is no moral ground not to pay, if you default, the punishment is so severe you will ask yourself whether its worth doing!

I believe Nigerians are even easier to govern than all these "Oyinbo" since we have these tendency to always trust our leaders, no matter what.
I also think Fashola will listen anytime there is "gnashing of teeth" over a state policy.

I am not saying people should not pay Tax, I am saying the "3" steps itemized above needs to be the guiding principles:

Transparency, Reasonableness, Severe punishment for defaulters


Can we ask for any less? Over to you "Gomina Fashola".

It is not all about paying tax, but where the money goes to.

The duty of any reasonable government is to stimulate business growth which in itself increases the tax base revenue of the government. Excessive Land charges will not stimulate growth in the housing sector but will rather slow it down. This  in turn will contribute to unemployment, shortages of houses 4 sale thereby driving up prices and government will also be losing out on tax revenues that would have been genereted from these housing developments.

A reduced or reasonable land charges would reduce cost of development and this will increase the number of investors with the financial power to em berk on such projects. This will trigger an increase in housing development which will reduce unemployment and increase tax revenue which will come from  sales profit, rent income, council tax and personal tax that these development will generate. I think the high land charges is bad from an economic point of view and very short sighted.  The state can and should try to increase it`s tax base but it as to be done sensibly.

Businesses that will increase employment should be encouraged with incentives not discouraged by ill thought out charges. I blame his economic advisers.