LASG Begins Prosecution Of Tax Defaulters

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it would begin to prosecute tax evaders and defaulters from April 1.

Mr. Bola Shodipo, Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Taxation, announced this at a news conference in Ikeja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the press conference was organised to sensitise residents on prompt payment of their taxes.

Shodipo alleged that many residents with taxable incomes were not paying taxes and the practice was posing a threat to ability of government to implement projects.

“Out of about 20 million people living in Lagos State, there are about eight million persons gainfully employed or engaged in productive activities and should pay taxes.

“However, only 2.7 million people actually pay taxes.

“This means that about 5.3 million people do not pay taxes.

“This is not only unfair to those who pay taxes voluntarily. It also portrays the 5.3 million tax evaders as enemies of the state.

“No responsible government will fold its hands and allow this to continue,” Shodipo said.

He said that the government was ready to enforce relevant laws to prosecute offenders.

“Now we are on the enforcement level and we will prosecute where applicable. We will not listen to any plea for waivers or concessions on penalties.

“Once, we charge you, we charge you,” he said.

Mr. Lanre Adesola, the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Justice, said that the Federal Government had given the state government, the permission to prosecute tax offenders in the state under the Personal Income Tax Act.

“Last week, the Attorney General of the Federation gave the Lagos State Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, go-ahead to prosecute tax offenders.

“The implication of this is that we now have the full authority to prosecute culprit, either under the Revenue Administration Law of the state or personal income tax law,” he said.

Adesola urged tax evaders and defaulters to remit their unpaid taxes to the government within 10 days from Tuesday, March 20, or risk being prosecuted.