Former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has called for a review of the Nigeria’s tax laws for an effective tax administration.
Oshiomole, also a former President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the call at the 26th Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.
The lecture was entitled, “Crisis of Governance, Governance of Crisis : The Role of Education in Nibbling Governance Crisis in Nigeria.”
He said the Federal Government must put necessary machinery in place to ensure that those who are expected to pay tax do so as and when due for improved infrastructural development of the country.
Oshiomhole regretted that the only group of people who pay tax regularly are salary earners whose taxes were deducted at source.
The former governor expressed disappointment that millions of taxable adults had devised means of evading tax.
“How do we justify tax payment because most people say why do we pay tax when they will steal the money, what are they doing with it? Look at the roads they are bad,” he said.
According to him, such statement were mere excuses as the first step to be taken is to pay the tax to get moral and legal right to demand the judicious use of the money by the government.
Oshiomhole urged the federal government to take a cue from the effective tax system of the Lagos State Government which had devised a means of identifying those who are expected to pay tax and ensure that they comply.
“The developmental strides and successes recorded in Lagos State is a result of proper tax collection and judicious use of the fund.
“Government must ensure that those who are at advantage pay their taxes and the fund generated should be used to deliver infrastructure for those who are at disadvantaged and everyone.
“You can’t expect good roads, water and other social amenities if you don’t pay tax; once you pay then you can begin to probe the authorities and demand accountability for your money,” he said.
On the rights of the citizens, Oshiomhole noted that the logic of democracy enables citizens to have not only the weapon to vote once in four years, but to “police and interrogate” those they voted for in between the elections.
He decried the poor state of the nation’s economy which he blamed on mismanagement of the country’s resources by the previous administration.
“The manifestation of crisis in Nigeria include but not limited to corruption, failing public schools, security challenges, growing population, among others.
“While it cannot be established that everybody is involved in corruption, its existence must be recognised by all and fought out of our system.”
Oshiomhole noted that corruption had affected almost all the sectors of the country, adding that graft was not limited to only those in government.
According to him, the poor state of infrastructure and absence of basic facilities such as stable power supply, potable water, good roads and functional refineries are caused by corruption.
On petrol subsidy, the ex-governor said rather than subsidising petroleum products the government should handover the refineries to competent private investors who would manage and run them.
“Rather than to lament and agonize, what we need do is to organize and tackle those things that have brought us down as a nation.
“As Nigerians we must recognise the problems confronting the country so as to diagnose and prescribe solutions to fix them.
“The responsibility of leaders is to fix the country rather than join the citizens to lament.
“When one notices that an environment is oppressive, what is expected of the victim is not to sit down to lament but to devise a way out of the problem,” he said.
He, however, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on the war against corruption, saying it recorded remarkable results.
“The era of impunity of do it and nothing will happen is almost over in Nigeria; this is an era bringing every offender to book no matter their status.”
Oshiomhole urged Nigerian students to be interested in governance, saying you are the future leaders.
“You must interrogate power, organise yourself decently and ensure that your leaders are accountable just like the NANS during the military era who demand answers for every action.
“Unlike the NANS of today who go mute on burning societal issues and are giving awards and giving plaques to government officials and other influential people,” he said.
In his remarks, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State lauded the former governor for honouring the invitation of the state polytechnic and expresses optimism that he would do justice to the lecture.
Ambode, represented by Dr Abdullateef Abdulakeem, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, described him as a ‘protagonist and an antagonist’.
He said the role played by Oshiomhole in crisis management as a labour leader and governor negotiating potential issues with government and in government could not be over emphazised.
The Rector of the institution, Mr Samuel Sogunro, noted that government was all about service delivery and once it fails at any level, the entire society would be affected, stressing the need for transparency in governance.
Sogunro said education in governance was key and if ignored could lead to crisis in governance because “education is the nation’s bulwark.” NAN.