The Enugu House of Assembly on Thursday passed the State Harmonised Taxes and Levies Bill aimed at streamlining taxes and levies collected in the state.

Leading a debate before its passage in Enugu, the assembly’s majority leader, Iloabuchi Aniagu, said the bill would make the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) be in charge of collecting taxes.

Mr Aniagu noted that the current administration was doing everything possible to give the state a facelift, hinting that this could only be achieved through tax collection.

While noting that no society can develop without taxation, the lawmaker added that the bill would curb the menace of roadblocks by touts, which he described as a serious issue in the state.

Another lawmaker, Malachy Onyechi, revealed that the bill, when implemented, would stop people from evading taxes.

Mr Onyechi regretted that many people evade taxes but want the government to provide basic amenities in their communities.

Also, Obiajulu Ugwu pointed out that the bill was an indication that the state government had not only heard the cries of the masses but was also determined to find a solution.

She argued that the issue of multiple taxation was affecting the state government’s image and also providing the opposition with an avenue to criticise and attack the current administration.

The lawmaker stressed that the bill would end needless extortion by different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Speaking shortly after the passage of the bill, the House speaker, Uche Ugwu, reiterated that the eight assembly was determined to sanitise the state’s tax system.

Mr Ugwu maintained that the assembly would not fold its hands and watch greedy individuals impose hardship on the people or allow their constituents to suffer under the guise of tax collection.

The speaker stressed that the passed bill was not targeted at a group or individual but was to restore sanity in the collection of taxes and levies in the state.

(NAN)