Market Women Lament Multiple Taxation in Taraba

By Gloria Manasseh Luka

Female entrepreneurs in Taraba's informal sector have voiced their frustrations over multiple taxation burdens, highlighting a need for transparency in the tax system.

The market women expressed a desire to understand who collects taxes and where the funds go, advocating for a streamlined payment process to a single source.

Mrs. Margaret Sani, a leader at the Jalingo Main Market, emphasized that women face greater challenges than men, often due to smaller business scales and financial constraints. 

She said many of these women are widows, divorcees, or elderly, making their capital significantly lower than their male counterparts.

The women reported paying various levies, often without clarity on their origins. For instance, they regularly pay fees of 50 to 100 naira on market days but struggle to identify whether these charges come from the State Revenue Service or local government authorities. The situation is complicated by the presence of old tenants collecting rent from new vendors, creating confusion and frustration.

Tukurah Ekwaseh, a representative from the women's tailoring association, shared an experience where a local government staff member demanded tax payments. Initially asked for 10,000 naira, she negotiated down to 5,000 naira but remained uncertain about the legitimacy of these demands, especially as multiple officials approached her for various taxes. A male colleague indicated that such demands were disproportionately directed at women because he hardly encountered local tax collectors.

These issues were discussed at a one-day policy dialogue aimed at analyzing gender in informal sector tax policy and administration, organized by Transparency and Accountability in Totality (Tin-T) in collaboration with the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, with support from the International Budget Partnership.

The event sought to gather stakeholders to discuss research findings and enhance understanding of tax policies affecting local businesses.

The  discussions emphasized the need for a transparent, fair, and efficient tax system that fosters local development while alleviating taxpayer burdens.

Dr. Aminu Jauro Hassan, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ALGON in Taraba State reiterated his commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to establish a transparent and accountable tax system aligned with Governor Agbu Kefas's Moving Forward Agenda.

 Aminu Jauro Hassan who is the Chairman of Jalingo Local Government expressed confidence that the meeting's outcomes would significantly aid ongoing tax reforms in the state.

Dr. Tijani Ahmad from the African Centre for Tax and Governance stressed the importance of an inclusive tax policy framework. His insights contributed to shaping recommendations aimed at improving the tax landscape for informal sector businesses.

Chika Okoro from the International Budget Partnership noted that the research was the first of its kind in Taraba, albeit limited to a few local government areas. She urged the state government to expand the study for broader data collection.

Khalifa Ahmed Haliru of Tin-T praised Taraba's tax justice system for promoting stakeholder engagement and an enabling environment for businesses. Representatives from various sectors, including market women, local government, people with disabilities, media, and academics, delivered goodwill messages, reaffirming their collective commitment to improving tax policy and administration.

Fidelis Nashuka, state lead of the Tax Justice Network and Governance Platform in Taraba, called for effective tax reforms and highlighted both achievements and areas needing improvement.

He said dialogue marked a significant step toward achieving equity and fairness in tax practices, particularly for women in the informal sector. 

·       Gloria Manasseh Luka is a broadcast journalist based in Jalingo.