REJOINDER: SENATOR ALLI'S IGNORANCE ON TAX MATTERS EXPOSED AGAIN - MAKINDE REMAINS A PEOPLE-FRIENDLY GOVERNOR

By Dayo Ogunbowale

The attention of the Oyo State Government has been drawn to the latest press statement credited to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of failure to domesticate the Tax Harmonisation Law.

Ordinarily, we would have ignored another episode of his campaign of falsehood, but it is important to set the record straight for the unsuspecting public and to advise the Senator to hire a competent researcher and fact-checker for his media campaign, to prevent him from committing further avoidable blunders and shooting himself in the foot.

FACT 1: Governor Makinde Will Never Add To The Burden Of Oyo People

Senator Alli's claim that Oyo residents are suffering under multiple taxation under Governor Makinde is a blatant lie that collapses in the face of verifiable facts. Governor Seyi Makinde is a people-friendly Governor whose entire economic philosophy is built on NOT burdening the people.

Evidence:

1.  No New Taxes in 6+ Years: Governor Makinde has repeatedly declared, most recently 11 months ago in a media chat with journalists: "We made up our minds that we will not increase taxes on our people. No new taxes. So, in the past six plus years, no new taxes in our state." Instead of taxing the people, his government chose to expand the productive economy. He brought more people into the tax net by creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

2.  Rejection of Presumptive Tax Bill: When the Oyo State House of Assembly passed the Presumptive Tax Bill that would have taxed barbers, bricklayers, photographers, mechanics and small shop owners, Governor Makinde declined to sign it. His reason was clear: "Anything that puts money in the pockets of the people is what I am interested in. At this time, I'm not interested in any policy that will empty their pockets. I'll continue to fight poverty, not the poor."

3.  Suspension of Revenue Collection on Farm Produce: In February 2024, at the Fasola Agribusiness Hub meeting with stakeholders, Governor Makinde declared far-reaching measures to address rising food cost. He suspended revenue collection on all farm produce marketed within Oyo State for six months with immediate effect, subsidised tractor clearing with N600 million (farmers pay N15,000 instead of N30,000), disbursed N1 billion to smallholder farmers through SAfER, removed civil servant guarantor requirement for ACCOS loans, and provided haulage trucks. He even set up a hotline to report recalcitrant revenue collectors. A government that does this cannot be accused of enabling multiple taxation.

FACT 2: The Illegal Collectors Alli Refers To Are Federal-Aided, Not Oyo State Agents

Senator Alli's ignorance is further exposed by his inability to differentiate between state and federal revenue operations. In essence, the "Federal-aided guys" are the ones he is ignorantly referring to.

The illegal levies on farm produce he complains about along major roads are not from Oyo State Government. The Senator should ask his campaign financiers in the NRS (National Revenue Service / Federal tax reform structures) for receipts of money collected from farmers. Those collection points are federal-aided operations, not state.

If Senator Alli had done basic research, he would have known that Governor Makinde had already suspended state collection on farm produce and is fighting those extortionists on behalf of farmers.

ADVICE: HIRE A RESEARCHER AND FACT-CHECKER

It is embarrassing that an APC gubernatorial candidate who promises to pass a law within 100 days does not know the status of revenue collection in the state he wants to govern, does not know that Governor Makinde has ruled out new taxes for over six years, and does not know who collects what on Oyo roads.

We advise Senator Alli to consider hiring a researcher and fact-checker on his campaign team. This will prevent them from committing further avoidable blunders, thereby shooting themselves in the foot before the 2027 campaign even starts.

Oyo people know who is pro-people. Governor Seyi Makinde will never add to the burden of residents of the state he governs. He expands the economy, not taxes.

.Ogunbowale is Special Assistant (Communication) to the Governor of Oyo State.