Alhaji Yusuf Umar-Kyautawa, Chairman, National Association of Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycle Riders, Sokoto State brnach, has pledged to remit N252 million as annual revenue, generated by members to the state government coffers.
Umar-Kyautawa disclosed this at stakeholders’ forum on progressive taxation, organized by Rural Women and Youth Development (RUWOYD), in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, on Wednesday in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders’ forum is part of project anchored by two Non-Governmental Organisations.
The project is tagged ”Tax Justice and Gender Responsive Public Service and Breaking Barriers project”, supported by Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) in Sokoto state.
The Association Chairman expressed readiness to partner with revenue collection agency and office of the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Special Duties, Alhaji Sa’idu Gumburawa, to actualize this dream.
In his keynote address, Sokoto State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Mainasara Ahmad, said that equitable tax collection and administration are the backbone of government successes.
Ahmad described tax as critical components of executing government programmes and services, noting that proper public awareness would facilitate enhanced collections as well as execution of meaningful projects.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki, stressed that the state government is working towards becoming dependent on its revenue sources and reduce dependence on Federal Allocations.
Dasuki, who was represented by Director of Internal Control in the Ministry, Alhaji Aliyu Bala, said transformations on tax collections, remodeling obsolete laws and other initiatives are geared towards achieving the vision.
Alhaji Aminun Zurmi, the Executive Chairman, Sokoto Internal Revenue Service (SIRS), said transformations were recorded by the agency that comprised repealing of tax laws, automated collections and other enhanced regimes.
Zurmi explained that the state and local government revenue collections are were harmonized and properly shared according to stipulated regulations.
He said the agency ensured single payment gateway and abolished cash collections at all levels, noting that automation and designated banks are being used.
He added that 47 graduates were recruited into the service with representation from all the 23 local government areas of the state.
According to him, the agency is faced with challenges of poor public awareness and tax education among citizens and appealed for cooperation and support towards achieving maximum success.
Malam Lawal Mijinyawa, the SIRS’s Director of Standards and Compliance, led participants into questions and answer sessions with interactive on revenue sources, rates and laws.
The Education Specialist of ActionAid, Kyauta Giwa, said the event was organized to further awaken public awareness on tax regimes, collections and justice which are integral part of financing government projects.
Giwa noted that the project has achieved so much on gender inclusive budgeting, girl child school enrollments and overall education as well as other issues.
She thanked the resource persons, dignitaries and participants for working towards success of the programmes.
NAN reports that Mr Mtwalo Msoni, the ActionAid Global Tax Advisor, later delivered a lecture on ”Progressive Taxation and Gender Responsive Public Service: Sustainable Financing.
(NAN)