The Cross River Government has cautioned against the collection of illegal taxes from small scale business operators in the state or face stiffer sanctions.
Bishop Emmah Isong, Chairman of Cross River Anti-tax Agency, said this on Wednesday in Calabar during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar.
Isong said that Cross River Tax Exemption bill that was passed in 2015 and signed into law by Gov. Ben Ayade, exempted low income earners in the state from paying taxes.
Isong urged politicians to stop sponsoring touts to molest the poor through illegal levies and taxation.
According to him, illegal taxations was impacting negatively on the economy of the state with thousands of businessmen relocating to other states.
He said that the Agency had set up the “Anti-tax brigade” to arrest any individual caught selling tickets to taxi, tricycle drivers and small scale business owners in the state.
“During the week, we arrested 12 persons at different spots in Calabar for selling illegal tickets to taxi and tricycles drivers.
“People thought we have no teeth to bite, but for the two years and half that this administration will last, we will sanitize the system so that investors that left earlier over taxation will have reason to return.
“I want to encourage small scale business operators to go on with their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation.
“Our aim is to ensure that the poor masses struggling to survive are not subjected to pay any kind of taxation anymore,” he said.
Isong said that the agency was serving as a catalyst to post COVID-19 palliative, adding that they have inaugurated their representatives in all the 18 local government areas of the state to ensure compliance.
