Inside Details As Sanwo-Olu Battles Underground Fight In Bid To Increase Lagos Revenue Via Tax

Charles Oyelesi

Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu is about to be doused in huge controversy.

Societynow.ng learned that this development has to do with Sanwoolu’s push to increase the internally generated revenue of Lagos state via taxation.

Societynow.ng’s checks revealed that Sanwoolu’s administration is pushing for the use of BVN in the collection of tax.

‘’The move is aimed at increasing the revenue from existing taxpayers and also capture more people into the system’’ societynow.ng learned.

The move is said to be facing speedily rising opposition underground against the backdrop of the quality of the provision of social amenities by the government compared to the huge revenue it currently boasts.

‘’The implication of this is far-reaching for the populace,’’ a source stated and explained ‘’it effectively puts their finances at the mercy of the state because the tax collection agency would see the gross income and you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you a mountain of conflict looms over determining what is taxable via the net income’’

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) is said to be aggressively pushing for the use of BVN for tax collection at the bidding of Governor Sanwoolu.

The checks conducted by societynow.ng revealed that the plan is to integrate the existing Taxpayers Identification Digit (PID) into the nationwide Tax Identification Number (TIN) system with the Joint Tax Board using the taxpayers BVN.

The LIRS’ plot is to get organizations to provide to ensure employees provide their BVNs for processing of their Tax Clearance Certificates.

Self- employed individuals would be required to provide their BVNs for creation of their taxpayers’ identity code – without which they can’t pay tax and do certain businesses as demanded by the Lagos Government.

Societynow.ng learned that arresting agency, especially traffic have been mandated to be strict on the demand for Tax Clearance before fines are paid.

‘’A lot of people are expected to be captured into the tax scheme through this process’’ societynow.ng learned.

The added information made available to societynow.ng revealed that a major opposition to the attempt by Sanwoolu’s administration to use BVN in increasing tax revenue is speedily rising on and offline.

‘’This is not good for Sanwoolu, he recanted on the promise to clear Apapa within 6months, he jacked up the fines for Lagos traffic laws and demanded for enforcement without doing anything about the bad roads wrecking havoc on lives and property and now he wants to jack up the internally generated revenue in a highly controversial manner without major moves to justify why the state is the highest IGR earner in the country. This doesn’t bode well for him’’ an ardent Sanwoolu supporter stated.