Enugu Government Clarifies Daily N200 Tax On Wheelbarrow Pushers
Wheelbarrow pushers are taxed N200 daily in Enugu State to boost the state internally-generated revenue.
The Chairman, Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr Emmanuel Nnamani, said aside wheelbarrow pushers, all businesses in both informal and formal sectors in the state pay taxes through electronic means to avoid exploitation.
Mr Nnamani, who spoke during an interview with newsmen in Enugu, said the state government would not be able to execute projects if the residents do not pay taxes. According to him, taxes are among the revenue sources of the state projection to build its capital base from $4bn to $30bn.
In his words, “A wheelbarrow pusher pays N200 levy every day, and so are other businesses in the informal sector. They are taxed according to their capacities.
“Pure water hawkers are however exempted. There is nothing the state can do without these taxes. What matters is that people see what these taxes they pay are used for.
“Without funds, the state government projects in all electoral wards in the state cannot be accomplished.”
Speaking on the Tax Harmonisation Bill that was recently signed into law in the state, Nnamani said, “The law is to enhance ease of doing business. Those in the formal sector only pay once and free themselves from multiple taxations for one year.
“We began the initiative in 2023, and it is working very well. So the law is to back up what we’ve been doing.”
He said before the bill was signed into law, there were many agencies collecting taxes differently and causing stress to business owners, adding that the need to eliminate such stresses and frauds led to the enactment of the law.
He said, “The law gives credence to what we have been doing since 2023. The ease of doing business that is attendant to it is attracting investments already and creating jobs. It also eliminates stealing as it is done electronically. We monitor what goes on from an electronic platform.”
He said the tax regime in the state is technologically driven, noting that “It works like a robot.”
According to him, “Some companies were hitherto paying taxes, but to non-state actors.”
He urged the public, especially traders to report suspicious revenue collectors to their leaders.
On allegations that the state has hijacked the revenue sources of local government areas, Nnamani said,
“The system is harmonised, and adopts collecting and splitting, where revenues are shared on a daily basis and accurately among the state, LGAs and agencies concerned.”
Enugu Government Clarifies Daily N200 Tax On Wheelbarrow Pushers is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
