Taxes & Tariffs | |
Taxes & Tariffs | |
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Thursday,
February 13, 2020 / 11.00PM / Ottoabasi Abasiekong for WebTV / Header Image Credit: WebTV
Keynote speaker at the recently held
business lecture series of legal advisory firm, Detail Solicitors, Mr.
Taiwo Oyedele, a Partner and West African Tax Leader at global audit firm,
Price Water House Coopers (PwC) has argued that the recently signed Finance Act
2019 which has changed the tax and fiscal policy landscape of the country, will
cover the following areas; promoting fiscal equity, reforming the domestic tax
laws and also affecting infrastructure and financial markets.
The Tax Law and Budget Deficits
The legislation which has been
gazetted by the Federal Government is the first major tax reform carried out
since 1999.
Mr. Oyedele underscored the fact that
Nigeria's current budget deficits and large debt burden constitute part of the
fiscal challenge of the Federal government.
According to him, this dovetailed into
sub-nationals facing huge fiscal gaps, worsened by the implementation of the
new N30,000 minimum wage.
With the various issues facing the
Federal and State governments, the tax expert said the Finance Act would
provide an avenue for ramping up revenue.
Giving further insight into the country's fiscal problems, he acknowledged the fact that Nigerians have a low level of tax compliance, influenced by the following factors;
He was of the view that Nigeria has
the task of addressing its low tax morale, to incentivize more individuals and
businesses to come into the tax net.
PwC Survey
He noted that the trust deficit
between citizens and government accounts for the high rate of tax evasion in
the country, a recent PwC survey revealed the following;
Oyedele called on governments at all tiers to improve service delivery to citizens, which will boost their morale and woo them to pay their taxes.
He said the top priority of citizens
was education and healthcare, while for businesses, their top two areas of
interest to be addressed were electricity and security.
On the issue of governance, he
tasked the government to be systemic about tackling the issue of corruption and
invest in Human Capital Development.
Mr. Anthony Ezeamama, Senior Associate Detail Solicitors, in an overview of the Finance Act 2019, highlighted one of the major changes captured in the provisions for the Digital and Electronic Services companies who are key drivers of the economy, he observed the following;
Also speaking at the event, Mr.
Chukwudi Ofili, Associate Partner, Detail Associates, said the 10th
edition of the business series was part of the role played by the legal firm to
provide clarity to investors and businesses on the provisions of the Finance
Act 2019.
He believed that since the Act will
involve an annual review, Detail Solicitors will continue to engage
stakeholders on policy implications and sectoral impact.
The business series featured a panel
session with the theme, "Thriving as a Business in 2020 and Beyond" with
discussants such as Bimbo Ogundare, Associate Director, Transaction Advisory
Services, Ernst & Young, Victor Ndukauba, Deputy Managing Director, Afrinvest,
Guy Bertrand Njoya, CFO Max.NG, and Tola Akinhanmi, Head Real Estate
Finance, Stanbic IBTC Capital.
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