PIND, Partners Unite To Tackle Multiple Taxation and Illegal Levies on MSMEs In The Niger Delta
Daily Metro News NG
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, successfully concluded a regional convening aimed at addressing the negative impact of multiple taxation and illegal levies on small businesses in the Niger Delta.
The event held on October 24, 2024, which was tagged: Empowering MSMEs: A Dialogue on Tax Reforms in the Niger Delta States brought together key stakeholders, including business membership organizations (BMOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), tax experts, and policymakers, to discuss strategies for tax reforms that would foster a more enabling business environment in the region.
During the convening, participants reviewed findings from PIND’s 2022 assessment, which highlighted that taxes from all tiers of government disproportionately burden small businesses in Abia, Delta, and Rivers States, compounded by illegal levies. The convening provided a platform to develop actionable solutions, including harmonizing tax administration processes and digitalizing tax collection to improve transparency and reduce exploitation.
Speaking on behalf of Tunji Idowu, Executive Director, PIND, Chuks Ofulue, PIND’s Advocacy Manager, said, “The discussions here today reaffirm the urgent need for reforms in the tax system to protect small businesses in the Niger Delta. We are committed to working with our partners to implement these reforms so that small businesses can thrive and contribute to the region’s economic growth.”
A key outcome of the event was the formation of a 15-member technical working group, composed of BMOs, CSOs, and tax experts, tasked with spearheading advocacy efforts for the harmonization and digitalization of taxes in the Niger Delta. Additionally, the convening agreed on developing a tax matrix that will serve as a tool to influence policymakers and legislators to reduce the tax burden on small businesses.
The event also saw the production of a documentary chronicling the effects of multiple taxation and illegal levies on businesses in the Niger Delta, which will be disseminated to key stakeholders to support ongoing advocacy efforts.
In collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and funded by OXFAM under the USAID SCALE project, PIND and its partners aim to continue leveraging networks to track and influence tax reforms at the federal, state, and local levels, ensuring the sustainability of these advocacy efforts.
About PIND:
The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is a Nigerian non-profit organization that promotes peace, economic growth, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region through multi-stakeholder partnerships and market-driven interventions.