Private sector expresses worry over multiple taxes

Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos - 03.07.2008

Some members of the private sector in Lagos State have expressed their displeasure over payment of multiple taxes to the government, saying the levy was too heavy for them to bear.
They made their grievances known to the state government during an interactive session on Public Private Participation and mega transformation in Lagos State to mark 400 days of the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola in office.

However, in a swift response, Governor Fashola explained that the government had never collected multiple taxes from any member of the private organisation but only the personal income tax that was due to it.

The governor said, “I will not agree with what you are referring to as multiple taxes. It is not multiple taxes but various taxes from the three tiers of governments, which are the Federal, State and Local.

“There is a constitutional problem here. It is the Federal Government that charges taxes on aviation and shipping while the local government charges on tenement. “