Proper Tax System Will End Government Borrowing – SGF, Don 

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume and a Don, Prof. Ezekiel Williams, have said that a proper taxation system will end the borrowing of loans by the Federal Government to fund projects.

They made this known during the launching of Professor Williams’ book ‘The Taxation Pendula,’ at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

This followed the recent move by the Federal Government to get a fresh $400m loan from the World Bank for the conditional cash transfer to 15 million households as one of the measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Reports said that the $400m will bring to $1.2bn the amount that the Federal Government is borrowing from the World Bank for the cash transfer as it had earlier secured a loan of $800m for the same purpose.

President Bola Tinubu announced the conditional cash transfer to 15 million households in a nationwide address to commemorate the country’s independence on October 1 as part of measures to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on petrol, which has led to an astronomic rise in the cost of living.

He also announced that the Federal Government would commence the payment of N25,000 monthly to 15 million households for three months from October to December 2023.

The SGF, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Nko Esuabana, said all tiers of government need to be vested in taxing citizens, while citizens must be committed to paying taxes as and when due to avert a situation whereby the government would be worried about raising funds for projects.

Also speaking, the author, Williams noted that the book explains the intricacies of tax laws, the need for citizens and corporations to pay taxes, and the actions expected of the government in utilising the taxes collected from citizens and corporate bodies.

He revealed that ‘The Taxation Pendula’ would educate citizens and businesses on how to pay taxes, benefit from paying taxes, and also avoid breaking tax laws.

Olusola Akintonde/Punch