‘Osun residents must pay tax to boost economy’

A communique at the end of a stakeholders’ forum held in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, has submitted that Osun residents must pay their taxes in order to boost the economy of the state.

The forum included traders, transporters, civil servants, clerics, artisans and students.

The stakeholders’ forum was put together by the Osun State Legislative Forum, which comprise senators, members of the House of Representatives and the state legislature.

A communique after the stakeholders’ forum said that in the light of the inability of the state government to pay salaries, the regular payment of tax was the only way the Internally Generated Revenue could increase.

The communique issued on Monday read, “In the face of dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, all Osun people must resolve to collectively ensure that there is tremendous improvement in the IGR. All the people and businesses in the state of Osun must patriotically pay their taxes and rates before being compelled to do so.”

The communique noted that due to the state’s dwindling resources many of the projects had been put on hold.

It said the state government must devise means of reducing waste and blocking all loopholes through which funds could be looted.

It added, “There is an urgent need to review the cost of governance particularly to ascertain accurately the cost of the various components, salaries, allowances and overheads encompassing recurrent expenditure of the state government.

“There should be a feedback mechanism on government policies and programmes so as to evolve prudence, transparency and accountability in fund management.”

The communique urged the state government to embrace Public-Private Partnership in areas where the state has advantage, especially in areas such as agriculture, mining and tourism.

It urged the state government to patronise more competent and efficient local contractors so as to create wealth within the economy of the state.

It added, “The state’s public and civil servants should cooperate with the government with a view to ensuring efficient and effective service delivery.”