Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) on Thursday decried multiple taxation by the government, warning that if not curtailed, it would lead to increase in price of goods and services which may affect many Nigerians.
They lamented that market men and women in Nigeria are facing a lot of crisis in term of multiple taxation and this has become unbearable.
Speaking in Ibadan at the “Benefit Scheme Enrollment for Traders”, which was flagged off at Adamasigba Stadium, Hon Jamilu Abbas, National President of the association, said the event was to address issue of multiple taxation imposed on traders in the country.
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“We are here to inaugurate state chapters of the association in South West for the benefits of the traders because without traders, there is no nation. We are here to tell Federal Government to help us address the issue of multiple taxation and insecurities. And we want Nigerians to know that we don’t have any political affiliation with any individual or political party. We are doing our business as market men and women in the country.
Also speaking, The Iyaloja-General and MATAN’s Chairman in Oyo State, Princess Folasade Nurudeen known as “Abeo Oosa” in conjunction with Abbas flagged off Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) of State Chapter where creme de la creme in the society thronged the occasion.
Abeo gave thanks to God Almighty for making the programme a laudable and unique one, despite many obvious obstacles that appear to challenge its possibility.
She promised to run governance of inclusiveness, avoid disappointing all members and however enjoined the new executive members to justify purpose they were brought onboard.
In his own submission, the chairman, Project Committee of the Scheme, Amb Olakunle Johnson noted that federal government is loosing over N31trillion to illegal tax collectors who are extorting Nigerians traders.
He said traders paid a lot of money before their good could get to its destination, adding that increase in dollar against naira is also another problem for the traders.
He said, “MATAN initiate enumeration of traders nationwide, we issue them multipurpose identity cards so that government at all level can have direct access to them irrespective to their status.”
“We want to know the numbers of traders in Nigeria, “Trader Money” was shared analogue and this make it difficult for all traders to benefit from it, and it failed to get to the grassroots.”
In his remark, the Chairman, MATAN Boad of Trustee, Hon. Muhammad Labaran said higher exorbitant of charges and price inflation is a major challenge facing traders across the nation considering charges levied against them before their goods get to it’s final destination.
“Multiple taxation contribute to high exorbitant of price of the commodity, we have resolved that the Federal Inland Revenue Service should invite all stakeholders in controlling and implementing price control such as Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MATAN and National Association of Small Scale and Medium Agriculture Mine and Power, who are critical stakeholders.
“In a meeting, we agreed that we want to eliminate habit of multiple taxation on goods from the factory to consumers, until this is done, Nigerians will continue to suffer.”
He however said machineries are on ground to enumerates all traders across the nation to have statistics and proper plan for them to have access to welfare and assistance from the government.
He lamented that majority of traders in urban and rural areas are not properly accommodated by the government due to lack of data.
“We have set up machineries to go from local government to local government to compile all names of the traders for them to have financial assistance and other welfare as a member of this organization.”
