TJ&GP urges Anambra to use tax money to improve market facilities

Maduako Igbokwe I Saturday, March 01, 2025

AWKA, Nigeria – The Tax Justice and Governance Platform (TJ&GP)in Anambra State has urged the state government to prioritize providing social amenities to markets in the state to encourage tax payment.

The group stated that its findings indicate that most market traders are unwilling to pay taxes because the government has not provided adequate facilities in their markets.

This appeal was made during a visit to the Anambra State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Chiamaka Nnake, as part of the Tax for Service Project, implemented in partnership with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and supported by funding from Oxfam Nigeria.

A member of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Alfred Ajayi, said that there are about 180 markets in Anambra State, and their findings in about 21 markets show they lack amenities such as drainage systems, fire services, modern toilets, CCTV cameras, solar lighting, and roads within the markets.

He explained that these deficiencies are some of the reasons traders find it difficult to pay taxes.

He also called for a tax awareness campaign to educate market traders on the importance of tax payment.

He said, “At Eke-Awka market in Awka, traders are yearning for fire trucks, solar lights, and boreholes. At the Electrical Parts Market, Obosi, they need fire trucks, boreholes, and modern toilet facilities. The International Building Materials Market, Ogidi, requires fire trucks, solar lights, CCTV, and VIP toilets.

“In Anambra North, Onitsha Main Market needs solar lights, modern toilet facilities, CCTV, and better roads both within and around the market. Ogbaru Relief Market is in need of a borehole, fire truck, concrete floors, and better roads within the market.

“In Anambra South, the Building Materials Market in Nnewi requires modern toilet facilities, a borehole, and solar lights. Ekwulobia is asking for a security van, solar lights, a borehole, and better roads within and around the new market. We believe that if the government pays closer attention to these markets, where a substantial portion of its revenue is generated, traders will be motivated to pay more, thus saving the government the huge amount spent on enforcement.”

Ugochi Ehiahuruike, the Executive Director of the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), host of TJ&GP, recalled the team’s contribution to the state’s IGR (Internally Generated Revenue) efforts.

“Before the inception of this project, the state’s total IGR was around 3.3 billion naira. However, after a while, it was able to generate 4.6 billion naira. Our awareness creation efforts contributed to that,”

“We will achieve our expected goal when more people pay their taxes. A major way to accomplish this is by investing part of the money generated from traders back into those markets. Traders have numerous needs that they look up to the government to address.

“Additionally, we discovered that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry needs a higher budgetary allocation and more timely releases to respond to these needs. In our report, we recommend that the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS) sustain its engagement with citizens on tax reforms and innovations. They need to know what taxes they should pay, where to pay, and how to pay.

“We also recognize that your ministry is crucial in this process. If some of these needs are to be budgeted for, it can be achieved through your ministry,” she added.

In response, the Commissioner advised members of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform to extend their Tax for Service campaign to local government chairmen for optimal success.

She noted that local governments, by virtue of their financial autonomy, collect some revenues in the form of fees and levies, for which they must also be held accountable.

“I know that local government chairmen, officials of AiRS, and others have been meeting this year to agree on how to streamline the process to avoid multiple taxation, a concern citizens have raised. It would be beneficial for you to also interact with them so everyone appreciates the need to use the money generated for the common good. I hope this will lead to a roundtable meeting to brainstorm on this important matter,” she said.

Nnake described the project as complementary to the government’s efforts to increase locally generated revenue.

“The state appreciates your campaign, and we will review the report. However, I must reiterate that tax payment is an obligation under the law. When citizens fulfill that obligation, they can boldly ask their government for services and hold the government accountable for its duties.

“I know that those markets have needs, and we will look into them. The government is also providing other public goods across the state. The advocacy is for everyone to do their part, and the government will then be committed to fulfilling its responsibilities.

“People don’t pay taxes for two main reasons: low awareness and trust issues. Many people believe that only those with money pay taxes. Additionally, there is concern about whether the money they pay will be used for their benefit.

“Fortunately, this government has shown how their money is working for them. The funds we use come from both the federal allocation and internal revenue. This shows that the significant investments across the state are a result of prudent management of limited resources,” Nnake added.