Who Should Collect Tax?

By Yomi B.A.

I write this letter to complain about the illegality and fraudulent acts that have been going on in my area since 2011. There is a question I want to ask the Lagos State Commissioner of Finance, the Commissioner of Transport and the Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue: Who is supposed to collect tax from the people, especially from the parks? There is a tricycle park at Moshalasi bus stop along Ijesha road in Ijeshatedo, Surulere. The route runs through Oshogbo Street, then to Cassette bus stop in Aguda, Surulere. The people who call themselves the executives collected N2,500 last year from each tricycle rider that plies the route and there was no receipt or Tax Certificate to show for it.

This year, they have come again with the fraudulent acts. I have never seen where a tax is paid without a certificate for it as evidence. When the matter was reported at Soloki Police Station, Aguda, Surulere, the police advised that the matter should be taken to the Inland Revenue Office or to the Chairman, Internal Revenue Office for clarification.

The police said they cannot act on the matter unless they get a directive from the Lagos State government or the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. Please.

Please, I think this case should be investigated. People cannot just be defrauding the government of its revenue.

If the relevant authorities want to get the real truth of the matter, officials should go to the park and find out from the tricycle drivers who are the victims of the fraudulent acts. Act quickly for we cannot afford what may lead to public disturbances.

The illegal tax collectors operate in these places:  along Ijesha Road, Olumo Lane, Aguda, and close to St. Barth Anglican Church.

The perpetrators should be made to face the music. This is an act of economic sabotage.

•Yomi, retired Army officer, wrote in from Lagos.