By Dikachi Elemba, in Owerri.
The Imo/Abia branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has appealed to governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to intervene and halt the prevailing outrageous revenue demands by various revenue agencies in the state.
The message was conveyed by Jude Eluma, chairman of the branch, who also described the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria as a responsible citizen of Nigeria, that partners with government not only in job creation but also in revenue generation, and that MAN is a private sector driven association of manufacturers assembly, whose activities help to formulate, articulate and make policy suggestions that compliment government efforts in policy formulations, but frowned at the outrageous revenue demands, which are stifling the growth of the industrial sector in Abia state.
The association has written several letters in the past where it said several requests of courtesy visits were made to see the chairman of Abia State Board of Inland Revenue, as well as the chairmen of the local government areas in the state, for familiarisation and request for a harmonised system of paying revenue on annual basis by MAN members in the state.
The chairman lamented that up till the time of writing this story that none of the letters were honoured by the chairman of the revenue board but, according to Eluma, the business of the members in Abia have continued to be threatened by the revenue agencies and the outrageous demands, which have all made many factories to close down, with many of the trucks belonging to the manufacturers confiscated.
The chairman also stated that there have been increased legal abuse and threats of court action by the revenue agencies of both the state and local governments without due process, all aimed at intimidating and coercing MAN members in order to part with funds under the harsh and unconducive business environment in Abia State.
“We reject all forms of business threats from multiple taxation, decentralised revenue drive, by different Abia State agencies, and local government areas amid insecurity, dearth of infrastructure and increased business costs that are crippling members’ factories,” Eluma said.
He, therefore, pleaded with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to intervene and save the state from imminent shutdown of all factories in Abia.
The souls of our ancestors will now rest in peace!