Traders Lament Arbitrary Tax Levy In Ekiti
Written by News Desk on February 5, 2025
In Ado Ekiti, the Capital of Ekiti State, some traders have protested against alleged arbitrary and multiple taxation by the State Internal Revenue Services.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the traders were close to tears as they chanted various solidarity songs to show their grievances.
Among the inscriptions are, “We are suffering, BAO bail us out, your tax is killing, BAO don’t kill us with tax, call your tax collectors to order, just to mention but a few.
Some of the traders who spoke to newsmen lamented that the revenue service had continued to impose exorbitant rates on them without considering the current economic realities and the nature of their businesses.
According to them, the service increased their annual tax from seven thousand Naira in 2022 to fifty thousand Naira in 2023 and now they were served between one hundred and twenty thousand Naira to three hundred and fifty thousand Naira.
The traders noted that the tax collectors came to their shops early in the morning and sealed them off, hence they called on Governor Biodun Oyebanji to intervene before the matter gets out of hand.
The traders said:”With the current economic situation in the country, one would expect the tax collectors to operate with human face and show some feelings but reverse is the case.
They don’t care about us or how we survive, all they want is money, our businesses are crumbling, we barely make money to feed our family, we are begging Governor Oyebanji to please come to our aid.
In addition the traders noted that they have also been paying tax to different organizations including, commerce and Industry, Local Government, Signage among others.
When contacted, the Chairman, Ekiti State Internal Revenue Services, Mr. Olaniran Olatona said the protest was unnecessary adding that there are procedures to seek redress if they noticed any fault.
He advised the concerned persons to meet with the authorities for negotiations and if they are not still satisfied they can seek further redress in court.
