NGO Introduces Drama and Traditional Dancers in Market Squares To Enhance Revenue Generation For Government.
By Shindong Bala
Tax justice and governance platform in Kaduna has created an innovative means of promoting revenue drive by educating business owners at market places to know their rights and obligations for better service delivery and good governance in the state.
State coordinator of the organization Mr. Simeon Olatunde mentioned this at an open market drama performance in Kawo and Kujama Markets squares to sensitize buyers and sellers on importance of revenue payments for social services and project execution.
The open market drama performance was part of the new innovation brought into revenue drive by the Tax Justice Governance platform in collaboration with the state Internal Revenue Service where it plans to visit various markets across the state using traditional drum beaters and drama performances to educate the populace.
Mr. Simeon Olatunde said the best informal sector to reach the populace was the market place, where both buyers and sellers can be reached.
“We have discovered that the best place to reach the informal sector is the market place, where we can reach both buyers and sellers coming to do business on daily basis. We are reaching out to them to know their roles and obligations, as well as how let them know how they can engage the government to deliver good governance to them.”
The coordinator emphasized that the platform was working in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government for generation of internally generated revenue for government to perform its social contract role.
However, Chairman Traders Association at the Kawo Market, Mallam Muhammad Idris Ustaz lamented that more than 70 percent businesses of their members had collapse due to demolition of the Market 5 years ago and reconstruction yet to be completed.
“The government of the previous administration of Malam Nasir El-Rufai came and persuaded us to allow them demolish and rebuild our market, with a promise that all the shop owners would be given priority consideration after the reconstruction of the market and that, the market will be completed within eight months. It is now five years, the market has not been completed. This has let to the collapsed of businesses belonging to our members.”
Also speaking the vice Chairman Umaru Sanda narrated that the amount of 5.5 million naira fixed by the previous government to be paid by shop owners was not affordable for the members and called on the present administration to review the amount downward.
Radio Nigeria spoke with a make shift shop owner by the market side Hajiya Amina Abdullahi who said the prevailing situation due to the market reconstruction has significantly reduced tax payments and revenue generation for the state.
The campaign drama which was displayed at the Kawo and Kujama markets’ square, was aimed at enlightening citizens on the importance of tax payment to the delivery of social services like education, healthcare, water and roads.
