The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), yesterday, accused Lagos State government of double taxation and unfriendly business actions.
Vice President, MAN, Lagos Zone, Chief John Aluya, in a presentation at the seventh Lagos Corporate Assembly, said the extant law of the land use charge confirmed a consolidation of all land-based laws and charges but most member-companies and even associations are being made to pay both land use charge and ground rent. He spoke on behalf of MAN at the meeting tagged “BOS meets business.”
“This is double taxation. We urge your administration to try as much as possible to eliminate double taxation,” he said.
Similarly, President of MAN, Mansur Ahmed, has decried low level of industrialisation, multiple taxation, epileptic power supply, infrastructural deficits and other challenges besetting the manufacturing sector.
Ahmed raised the concerns at the 38th Yearly General Meeting of Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states branch of MAN and the 2020 yearly Report Accounts at the MAN Secretariat, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The President, whose speech was presented virtually by Mr. Samuel Kolawole, MAN Vice President (West), maintained that states under the purview of the branch are struggling under the yoke of those challenges inhibiting their operations and optimum production.
He, therefore, appealed to the governments to enhance the business environment for the existing industries to thrive.
Also, President, LCCI, Mrs. Toki Mabogunje, said the movement of goods and persons was still quite challenging and had contributed to the rate of inflation in the state.
“With its mega-city status, the movement of goods and persons is a critical factor in determining the cost of living in Lagos State. With a rising population, increasing industrial activities, and an influx of persons into the state, movement of goods and persons is still quite challenging and has contributed to the rate of inflation in the state.
Meanwhile, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while responding to the issues raised by the corporate players and captains of industry at the meeting, promised that the state would address the issues though some of them were already being worked on.
On insecurity, Sanwo-Olu stated that a lot of the security issues emanated from abandoned property, reason the owners of the property should possess them for use or the state government would invoke its land use power. The governor said the property would either be pulled down or the owner will loose the property to the state government.
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