By Ijendu
Iheaka
Oct. 9,
2017
Prof.
Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) has counselled governments in Nigeria to improve accountability
and transparency by way of using taxpayers’ money to change their lives in
order to encourage tax payment among citizens.
Ojukwu
gave the advice on Thursday in an interview with our reporter in Aba while reacting
to the federal government’s new drive for tax payment.
He said
that when taxes are properly utilized and the citizens see the effect of their
taxes, they would be encouraged to pay taxes the more.
“When the
people see the evidence of the use of the tax they have paid, the people will
be encouraged to pay tax the more. There is no magic about making people pay
taxes.
“But if
they cannot travel for more than ten kilometres without reaching big potholes,
they cannot take a train from one point to the other, and the roads are
dilapidated, our public schools are dilapidated, we do not have power supply,
it becomes hard to make people put out their money to pay tax” he said.
He said
that investment schemes in which taxes do not apply are not just found abroad
but also available in Nigeria and are meant basically to encourage charity.
Ojukwu
said that investments in charity organizations which are properly managed are
not taxable by law but condemned the attitude of some Nigerians who use money
meant for charity purposes to buy cars.
He
attributed such actions to the prevalence of the culture of corruption in
Nigeria as the reason people use money for charity for selfish ends while
avoiding taxes.
The legal
icon stressed that when governments show integrity, responsibility,
transparency and accountability in the use of taxes, the way Nigerians pays
their taxes would change.
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