APC bristles over Makinde’s N35,000 levies contributing to Tinubu hardship
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde has been slammed by the state All Progressives Congress (APC) for going too far by introducing between N25,000 and N35,000 levies for social events – such as naming and wedding ceremonies – in his bid to shore up internally generated revenue (IGR).
The APC argued that entertainment levies will pile up more financial pressure on a population already burdened with economic hardship caused by excessive federal taxes in the face of non-existent or inefficient social infrastructure.
Ceremonies with N25,000 levy
- Wedding engagement
- Wake keeping
- Club organised events
- Graduation ceremony
Ceremonies with N35,000 levy
- Wedding
- Child naming
- Birthday
- Burial
- Chieftaincy title
- Corporate promotion
Oyo APC described the levies as anti-people in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Sadare, and urged Makinde to rescind them.
Sadare reiterated that civil servants, artisans, business owners, and commercial motorists are already burdened by existing taxes.
“We call on Gov. Makinde to rescind his decision to start forcing residents to pay inherent taxes before hosting any social event in any part of the state. This call became imperative because the introduction of entertainment taxes, at this time, is akin to pushing the citizens to the wall,” the statement stressed.
“We all know that the nation’s fragile economy is biting hard on the masses while they bring the resilience in them to the fore by creating happiness for themselves through family and friends gathering in the name of social events.
“The civil servants, artisans, business owners, commercial motorists (including danfo, okada and tricycle drivers or operators) are already burdened with taxes by the state government and asking them to pay entertainment taxes at the same time would further subject them to hardship and frustration.
“Therefore, we urge the state government to suspend the policy immediately.”
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