Seriously, engaging those that find taxpaying silly as an altitude before them, is an issue that deserves an introspection on their path.

For I believe, that employing rhetorics will not in actual sense identify with the axiom behind my points as been designed to address the issue of taxation in any community world over, especially as it effects our dear state, Enugu.

Taking it from the angle of those that saw nothing but faults and failures from the present government, in the light of taxations as alleged, in some quarters.

I wish to clearly remind us that, it was an inherited act, owning to the style or stuff of governance we practice in today’s Nigeria, which was modeled in British-American manner of leaderships.

In America or England of today, have one ever heard that someone invaded taxation, when you do, the consequences awaits you spontaneously.

In both nations, there rules plays out, as regards taxations, day in, day out.

You will equally agree with me, that the same scenario plays out in all those developed nations that we ran to for cover, send our wives, children, siblings, Inlaw, and what have you, and without mixing words, those nations were built with nothing but taxpayers money, that ran in billions of whatever currency they use.

In the light of the above highlights, they simply points to the fact, that no taxation, no government, and Nigeria, and our state Enugu, can not be exception.

Sordid, to cite here that, during the primitive era in Nigeria, taxation was in existence, because humans were equally governed then, even when such governance has been today identified as republican in nature, assuming that one wants to equall it with the kind parliamentary system of government we run today, as a nation.

Though the pattern of the then taxation may differ in style, and implementation but yet people are taxed, even in primitive periods, and guess what, then, taxation was more tedious before the payee, because it was undemocratic, neither were he/she have any say or even make an input nor suggestion (s), the way or manner they operation should take.

In addition, no Enugu man, will forget in a hurry the name, and over do man like, late High Chief Onyeamaneke, the warrant Chife, and his comrades across the Southeastern part of the country then, when it comes to taxation.

With the above evidences, is clear to us now, that the present administration is not the inventor of taxation in Nigeria, particularly in Enugu state, rather, his administration is working 24/7 in seeing that system is being modified, and transparent, owning to present generation’s relationships with internet things.

To many well meaning economists, and particularly those from Enugu extraction, they saw in present administration the possibility of valued performance using our tax payees money, because no government can run without common purse or our common wealth, in other to maintain the welfare of the people, which boarders more on infrastructural development be it social, economical or environmental.

I have a feeling that, this administration as a system is keyed to properly administering our common wealth (taxes), in a more efficient manner, and progressively increasing our standard of living in the state.

For example, when completed, all the scattered economically improved infrastructures throughout the state, what some little segments of state are calling today as over taxation would have been seen to be translated into a vibrant economic growth, and industries, ie, the tractor assembling plant, first of its kind within the southeastern corridor of Nigeria.

Again, the newly procured government owned asphalt plant, for the purpose of reducing cost in constructing, and maintenance of our roads, and other infrastructure that requires the use of such products in our state, and by extension, designed to enhance our income in terms revenue generations, especially at grassroot levels, one now can clearly observe, the strong economical values attached to all those humane policies initiated by the present administration.

Therefore, the hope in realizing the economical potentials of our state, in my view, the government has hit the ground running by initiating some wonderful economic policies that is in line with goal one and two of SDGs, and the only means to achieve this, is for the government to invest in areas that will attract revenues, using our common wealth, just like they are doing now.

So therefore, we have a choice here, one is to make our leader see that, avoid paying tax and wait for whatever comes from Abuja, that cannot gloriously afford paying salaries, and let alone solving other developmental challenges, will remain a welcome development by us, or on the other hands, government augments itself using IGR, in a bid to see that the future of our state did not stagnate, whenever there is a bridge in supplies from Abuja.

As we can see, developments are ongoing here, and there, and I have maintained, that is only when you pay your tax, you can demand for results, which includes but not limited to-: accountability, transparency, communication, information, budget balancing, saving for future, community based projects, general inclusion and participation in governance etc.

So, condemning taxation at this face of development, or encouraging it, is a decision that have to yours only, and whatever choice one made here will definitely points to the level of development he/she wishes our state, and not the leader in question.

In sum, pay your taxes, and hold government accountable, or renege, and deny yourself the development as it ought be.

If Enugu is working, H.E. Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah is engineering.

Shalom.
Prince Nnah Marcel