By Kunle SHONUGA
On International Women’s Day, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a Non-governmental Organisation has called on the Federal Government to increase tax revenue allocation for gender responsive social services.
TBI Africa said that NAN reports that #BalanceforBetter is the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, which is observed each year on March 8.
The 2019 initiative is aimed at gender equality, a greater awareness of discrimination and a celebration of women’s achievements, according to the International Women’s Day website.
That includes reducing the global pay gap between men and women and making sure all are equal – and balanced – in activist movements, boardrooms and beyond.
The day is a public holiday in some countries and largely ignored elsewhere.
In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.
Mrs Ene Obi, AAN Country Director made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Obi said there was need for the government to prioritise gender-just, progressive and transformative tax policies and improve funding and fulfillment of Women’s Rights.
She said if done, it would reduce unfair tax burdens on women; increase allocation of tax revenues for gender responsive social services and ensure tax and fiscal policies were recognised.
She also called on the Federal Government to put policies and systems in place to stop tax abuses by multinational corporations and as well remove gender bias and discrimination in tax policies.
“Multinational corporations are systematically avoiding and evading taxes, by abusing weaknesses within the national tax system.
“And these abuses comprise a large part of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), resulting in hundreds of billions of Naira in lost public revenues every year.
“ These potential public revenues could and should have been used by government at all levels to provide economic and social services and infrastructures that are urgently needed to address inequalities.
“If tax revenues were collected in a progressive and gender-just manner, they could be a sustainable and predictable source of income to publicly finance Nigeria’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.’’
Obi, however, appealed to the government not to concede tax giveaways in the form of tax exemptions and incentives, as well as scaling back regulations with the alleged intention of attracting investment.
“At the same time, government is introducing copious austerity measures and increasing the tax burdens on the poor, particularly on women, which is in turn aggravating the precarious social situation of women in Nigeria.
“Amid poverty and heightened levels of exposure to violence and insecurity, most women in excluded communities across Nigeria have poor access to food, potable water and the essential services they need, such as reproductive health services and social amenities.
“These basic amenities and services are vital for women’s survival, as well as empowering them to lead productive and meaningful lives.
“Loss of potential tax revenues due to corruption, tax avoidance and evasion and the rest have all significantly decreased women’s access to quality public services.
“These policy choices impact on women, both directly and indirectly,’’ Obi Said.
She added that putting in place proper policies on tax would end poverty, reduce inequality and also tackle the country’s climate change.
