Port Harcourt, Rivers State — The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), in partnership with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, successfully held a landmark event addressing the challenges that multiple taxation and illegal levies impose on small businesses in the Niger Delta.
Hosted on October 24, the convening drew together representatives from business membership organisations (BMOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), tax experts, and policymakers to strategise on tax reforms conducive to business growth in the region.
The gathering was driven by findings from PIND’s 2022 assessment, which underscored the undue tax burdens faced by small businesses in Abia, Delta, and Rivers States.
The assessment highlighted a proliferation of taxes from different levels of government, exacerbated by illegal levies that stifle small enterprise growth.
During the event, stakeholders explored pathways for harmonising tax administration and implementing digital tax collection processes to enhance transparency and curb exploitation.
Speaking on behalf of PIND’s Executive Director Tunji Idowu, Chuks Ofulue, PIND’s Advocacy Manager, emphasised the significance of the discussions, saying, “The discussions here today reaffirm the urgent need for reforms in the tax system to protect small businesses in the Niger Delta. We are committed to working with our partners to ensure that these reforms are implemented so that small businesses can thrive and contribute to the region’s economic growth.”
A notable outcome of the convening was the formation of a 15-member technical working group, composed of BMOs, CSOs, and tax experts, charged with driving advocacy for streamlined and digitised tax systems in the Niger Delta.
The group will also work on developing a tax matrix to guide policymakers and legislators in reducing the tax burden on small businesses.
In addition to setting reform agendas, the event featured the premiere of a documentary that captures the impact of excessive taxation and illegal levies on Niger Delta businesses. This documentary will be circulated among stakeholders as a tool for advocacy.
PIND, alongside the Tax Justice and Governance Platform and with funding from OXFAM under the USAID SCALE project, is committed to using its networks to support and monitor tax reform efforts at all levels of government, ensuring that these initiatives continue to protect and empower small businesses in the Niger Delta.
