The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has called on government to use the 2023 population census to harmonise the various data platforms into one central platform and widen the country’s tax base.
The national president of NACCIMA, Ide Udeagbala, stated this at the Chamber second quarter (Q2) news conference held in Lagos.
Udeagbala said that “the 2023 population census initially scheduled for May this year could not have come at a better time. It will be the first digital census to be carried out in Nigeria and it is hoped this will meet global best standard.”
He noted that, the soon to be held census provided the opportunity for the country to harmonise data platforms such as the National Identification Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN) among others.
According to him, NACCIMA sees this census as an opportunity for government to widen the tax base of the population in the country instead of increasing tax rates and multiplying taxes on the already over-taxed few individuals and OPSN companies.
“NACCIMA is also concerned by any proposal to increase taxes and therefore calls on the incoming government to reconsider any thoughts on further tax increase, especially the Value Added Tax (VAT),” he said.
He also expressed the private sector’s concern about the several issues which had constrained the growth of the mining sector.
Udeagbala advised the incoming government to consider reduction in the size of its functionaries to reduce cost and save funds for infrastructural development.
He emphasised the need to make elective positions and principal appointments into various government offices less financially attractive and redirect attention into production economy to revive the ailing Nigerian economy.
Speaking on decentralising Nigeria power sector, he said: “the recent constitutional amendment on power generation which allows state governments to create laws for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to areas not covered by the national grid system in the states has paved way for the transformation of the power sector in Nigeria.”
Udeagbala emphasised that this is the right step in the right direction and NACCIMA commends the federal government for the laudable policy.
He noted that the various challenges faced by the sector has resulted in the frequent and long power cuts that has hampered economic growth and development, saying that about 85 million people in Nigeria representing about 43 per cent of the population has no access to national grid, making Nigeria the largest energy access deficit in the world.
“NACCIMA calls on the various state governments to take advantage of this new policy to collaborate with the OPSN to use the available energy sources, such as gas and renewable energy to provide power for the informal sector to thrive and build production economy as well as create employment for the masses,” he added.
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