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By Mandy Willy
Coalition of Civil society organizations and stakeholders have called for a harmonized, simplified, and digitalized tax system to address multiple taxation and illegal levies affecting businesses in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers States.
They also urged a review of the 2025 National Tax Act to ensure fair taxation at subnational and informal sector levels, noting that multiple taxation, excessive toll fees, and road levies are driving up the cost of goods and services and crippling business activities.
The call was made during a two-day strategy write-shop organized in Port Harcourt by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Tax Justice and Governance Platform, and key stakeholders, with support from Oxfam.
The event brought together representatives from the organized private and informal sectors, media, tax experts and Coordinators from various states including Kano, Enugu, Anambra, Lagos, Abuja, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.
Speaking at the event, CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, represented by the Finance and Admin Manager, Mato Magaji, described illegal and multiple taxation as a critical issue stifling economic growth across federal, state, and local levels.
“Uncoordinated tax systems, arbitrary levies, and excessive charges discourage investment, disrupt livelihoods, and burden citizens, especially small traders, transporters, and entrepreneurs who are the backbone of our economy,” Rafsanjani said.
While commending the Federal Government for enacting the new National Tax Law, he stressed that effective implementation, harmonization, and public awareness were key to ensuring the reforms benefit citizens.
Harrry Udoh, a member of the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, in his presentation titled “Action Plan for Advocacy on Harmonization and Implementation of National Tax Law”, said Nigeria’s informal sector which accounts for over 60% of the workforce remains largely outside the tax net.
He urged robust civic education, partnerships with trade associations, and incentives for voluntary tax compliance.
Sadiq Mustapha, Programme Lead of the Tax Justice & Governance Platform, Kano, noted that many levies imposed on small businesses are illegal, unharmonized, and often collected without receipts. He added that overlapping mandates between federal, state, and local governments create duplication, while weak enforcement of tax laws fuels extortion.
“Informal businesses, especially women-led ones, are targeted and harassed by revenue agents. Multiple taxation erodes profits, discourages compliance, and scares away potential investors,” he said.
CISLAC’s Program Manager and National Coordinator of the Tax Justice & Governance Platform, Ayo Omowu, called for a tripartite agreement between Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Rivers States to harmonize levies and fully utilize the Calabar Port Authority.
He noted that the revival of the port could ease the movement of goods, reduce road congestion, and boost small and medium-sized enterprises.
Transport sector representatives in Rivers State, Golden Nwibakpo and Samson Legborsi, decried the daily exploitation of drivers by touts, community leaders, and political thugs, claiming such illegal collections do not reach government coffers.
They called for a digitalized single ticket system to curb harassment and eliminate multiple levies.
Market union representatives echoed similar concerns, stating that traders are weighed down by unauthorized taxes and levies without any visible benefits, warning that the situation is worsening business survival in the region.
