The Lagos State chapter of Growth and Employment in States (GEMs3) on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, organised a seminar at the Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area to enlighten Ikorodu and Epe business women on the need for them to pay their taxes and rates.
While speaking during the seminar, the GEMs3 representative, Mr. Dawodu Musa told them to take the issue of payment of their taxes and rates to the State and Local government seriously. He further explained to them that it was through the payment of their taxes that government raises money to provide basic amenities to the citizens.
In urging them to ensure that they pay their taxes and rates, he listed for them collectible items under the law, which include, shop rates kiosk, licensing fee for sales of liquor, approved open marked levy, slaughter slab licence, marriage registration fee, street naming registration fee, motor park levy, parking fee, domestic and animal fee, radio and television licence, regulated food premises fee, among others.
Mr. Dawodu told them that while rates are being collected by the local government, state government collects taxes. He also told them that tenement rate has been changed to land use charge in some areas. Therefore, the houses in those areas should stop paying tenement rate for land use charge because government can’t cheat them.
The representative of GEMS3 also told them that hawking has been prohibited and that those selling liquor should pay for shop rate and licence fee.
Again, he enlightened them on the benefit of paying their taxes and rates and how to lodge their complaints with the government if the need arises. In his words, “Any letter of complaint should be directed to information and complaint officers of local governments. If there is no response to such complaint, you can go to higher officers and if there is still not desired response, you should go to Taxation and Revenue complaint center, Block 12, Room 11, Alausa, Ikeja.”
Concerning the complaints made by the participants of the programme that information and complaint officers as well as revenue collectors were not usually polite to people, Mr. Dawodu revealed that GEMS3 has enlightened them now and there should be an improvement.
Mrs. Matilola Taiwo, one of the organizers, advised woman in Epe and Ikorodu Division on how they can achieve success in their businesses. She told them to be prudent in their spending by ensuring that they do not spend their business capital and gain.
She also tried to discourage them from regular purchasing of social party wears because according to her, such expenses deplete their capital. The resource person told them to engage in partnerships and referrals with people who sell the same goods, which she said is the secret of Ibo businessmen’s successes.
In her words, fighting with those who sell the same wares you are selling will not help you. You need to partner with them.
Mrs. Juliet Olumuyiwa Rufai spoke about tackling the scourge of sexual abuse. The lady from Mirabel Centre, advised women to be friendly and polite with the girl child, saying that it would encourage victims or prospective victims to discuss it with their mothers for possible action to be taken.
She preferred sexual education as a necessary factor that could help save both male and female children from rape. Mrs. Rufai told them to let their children understand what parts of their bodies are meant for, since the rape involves both girls and boys.
Her words, “Some boys have been raped too. We have about fifty cases of that. It is usually head-covered Alhaja’s and Pastors that do this in the name of deliverance. We should stop discouraging rape victims from seeking legal action against their perpetrators,” she stated.
The representatives of AB Micro-Finance Bank, client advisor and credit analyst, Mr. Owoeye Oluwafemi Stephen and Abimbola Ogundele both encouraged the business women to bank with them. They assured the participants that being a business development bank, they give loans to business man and woman with zero capital.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Hon. Wapa from Ikorodu West, after the questions and answer session, to bring the seminar to a memorable close.
However, the Sole Administrator, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Segun Anifowoshe while addressing the participants earlier on commended the organizers. He also promised that orientation would be continually given to revenue collectors to engender politeness in their dealings with the public.