Ekiti traders urge Tinubu to suspend tax policy amid economic hardship

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ado-Ekiti–Some traders in Ekiti State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to suspend the current tax policy, citing the harsh economic conditions confronting small business owners and low-income earners across the country.

Speaking on the impact of taxation on petty traders, Samuel Okorafor said the policy should be put on hold until the economy shows clear signs of recovery.

According to him, imposing taxes at a time when businesses are struggling to survive could worsen poverty and hardship among ordinary Nigerians.

He argued that taxation should be based strictly on income levels, noting that many small traders operate on very slim margins and can barely meet basic family needs.

Okorafor stressed that not everyone has the capacity to pay, pointing out that many Nigerians, especially women in the informal sector, engage in low-profit activities such as selling food items, firewood, pepper, crayfish, tomatoes and other household essentials to survive.

His words, “The tax problem should have been suspended only now, until the economy of the country is still alive. The government should tax people according to their income.

“The tax is not made for everybody. Especially, look at my business. It is tiny. It’s just a petty business. So if you tax me based on this income, I’m going nowhere. I cannot be able to cater for my family without paying tax to the Government.

“So the tax is based on income. But for me, according to the situation in the country today. If I’m to speak my own mind, the tax problem should have been suspended only now, until the economy of the country is revived.

“So the government should consider people for the tax problem, because not everybody is capable of paying that tax.”

“My business is tiny, just petty trading. If I am taxed based on this income, I will not be able to take care of my family.

“How do you tax businesswomen struggling in Lagos to cater for their families? What of women selling roasted corn, firewood or pepper? Is it that kind of business you want to tax?”

Another trader, Toyin Dudulewa, described the reform as both emulating and challenging, urging the Government to be lenient in order to favour everyone.

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