Only 700,000 Out Of 22m People In Lagos Are Active Tax Payers – LASG

– Lagos state Government said that out of 22 Million people in Lagos only 700,000 actively pay their tax

– The government would expand the tax net by engaging and encouraging the citizens to ensure that they participate in their tax obligations

– The more taxes we are able to collect, the more we are able to do

 

Lagos state Government has said that out of 22 million people in Lagos only 700,000 out of the 4.8million registered as taxpayers are active taxpayers.

The state Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Samuel Egube made this known in his address at the Lagos Central Senatorial district Y2020 Budget Consultative Forum, held at Surulere on Friday.

Egube said the government would expand the tax net by engaging and encouraging the citizens to ensure that they participate in their tax obligations.

He said: “The more taxes we are able to collect, the more we are able to do, the more we are able to support small businesses, create and facilitate businesses, put the infrastructure in place that will be able to attract more investments and create jobs and do many other things.

“It is important that as we want to get Lagos greater, we want citizens to participate in governance and also pay their contributions.”

He said the focus of the budget will be woven around the present administration’s advocacy for an inclusive government that will run under the policy thrust based on the ‘THEMES’ agenda.

“Which are: Traffic management and transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st-century economy, Entertainment and Tourism, Security and governance.

“The Y2020 budget is being designed to be people oriented in order to ensure a Lagos that works for all irrespective of age, gender, tribe or status.”

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He complained about the lack of support by the government in the entertainment and tourism sector, saying every achievement recorded there has been on private initiative.

“The government is going to actively support that sector, it is our view that the government must act to support the sector this time around”, Egube said.