Lagos Tax Justice Holds Capacity Building Workshop At Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA In Ikoroodu – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

The LagosTax Justice has held a two-day capacity building workshop on tax and related issues at the headquarters of Igbogbo-Bayeku LCDA in Ikorodu Lagos State.

Lagos Tax Justice organized the workshop in partnership with the Association of Nigerian WomenBusiness Network (ANWBN) and Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT). The workshopwas sponsored by the International Budget Partnership Nigeria and CivilSociety Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Nigeria.

Speaking atthe event, Mr. Mike Alade, the coordinator of Lagos Tax Justice, said that the objectives of the workshop were to sensitize market groups and civil society organizations (CSOs) on their tax rights, obligations and tax administrative processes and enhance understanding of tax policies and the role of tax-for-service agreements in promoting accountability and service delivery.

Alade said that other objectives of the workshop were to strengthen the capacity of market groups and CSOs to engage with tax authorities on tax-for-service agreements and foster dialogue between tax authorities, and market groups to improve transparency and efficiency in tax collection and service provision.

Officials of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) were on hand to explain the implications of the new Tax Act that will come into effect in January 2026 to the participants at the event.

According to them, the new tax law broadened the tax base, simplified compliance and digitalized the systems.

According tothem, the new tax regime will reduce dependence on harmful nuisance taxes, increase transparency and accountability and promote fair fund distribution.

Also speakingat the event, Dr. Adeleke Adeniyi, listed pitfalls in the current local government regime in the country.

According to him, there are leakages and poor remittance culture, adding that collections are not properly receipted andremitted.

He saidthat there are outdated rate and rates fail to reflect inflation and that LGs sometimesinformally up-rate, creating legal and compliance risk. He also identified administrative capacity limits like poor digitalization, manual processes; publicresistance and weak stakeholder engagement (non-cooperation, informaleconomy).

Civil societygroups, different trade groups, market women and men, artisanal and others attended the event.

Hon. Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, the executive chairman of Igbogbo-Bayeiku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ikorodu of Lagos tasked the residents of the area to pay their taxes, rates, levies and others promptly to the appropriate authorities in order to develop the LCDA.

Aroyewun stressed the need for residents to pay taxes, rates and levies as and when due, adding that, “It is the law that people have to comply with. We want to encourage ourpeople to ensure prompt payment of taxes and levies that are due to the government, be it the federal, state, and local governments.

“People are demanding more services from the government and there is no way the governmentcan provide services and infrastructure without proper funding and the funding will come from taxes and levies paid by the residents. So we encourage them to pay their taxes as and when due.”

On what hehas done since he assumed office, he said that he studied the situation before hecame on board and was prepared for the situation, adding no matter how lean the purse of the local government, he is going to do his best so that the people can see the dividends of democracy and benefit from the work of LCDA.

He promised that the standard of living will improve during his tenure. Aroyewun advised young people in the area to work hard and stay away from crime and criminality.

The LCDA chair encouraged young people to be creative and self-reliant, adding that they should acquire a skill after formal education.