The Oyo State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sharafadeen Alli, has accused Governor Seyi Makinde of failing to demonstrate commitment to the domestication of the Tax Harmonisation Law, alleging that the delay has encouraged multiple taxation and illegal revenue collection across the state.
Alli, in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Bisi Oladele, expressed concern over reports of illegal levies allegedly imposed on farmers, traders and business owners by non-state actors posing as revenue agents.
He alleged that the collectors had mounted roadblocks across the state, where they harassed, molested and extorted money from farmers transporting agricultural produce from Oyo North to Ibadan.
According to the statement, business owners conveying goods from Ibadan to other parts of the state have also reported being subjected to multiple levies at different checkpoints.
Alli said the alleged illegal collections had increased the cost of transporting farm produce and other commodities, thereby raising the prices of basic goods and reducing the profit margins of farmers and small-scale business owners.
He argued that residents and businesses in Oyo State deserved protection from multiple taxation and what he described as crude methods of collecting road taxes.
The APC candidate said domesticating the Tax Harmonisation Law would help harmonise taxes across state and local government areas, eliminate arbitrary and unauthorised collections, and curb the activities of illegal tax collectors.
He regretted that the Makinde administration had allegedly failed to take serious steps towards passing the legislation despite the hardship multiple taxation was causing farmers, traders, transporters and other residents.
The statement further claimed that several states had already passed the law, while others were making efforts to complete the legislative process.
Alli, however, pledged that if elected governor, his administration would ensure the passage of the Tax Harmonisation Law within its first 100 days in office.
He said the proposed legislation would provide a tax system that protects farmers, transporters and business owners, encourages enterprise and promotes economic growth.
The statement was signed by Oladele on behalf of the Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation.
