By Elizabeth ADENUGA
The Joint Tax Board (JTB) on Thursday warned the newly elected and re-elected governors against the misuse of tax payers’ money.
TBI Africa said the Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Oseni Elamah, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Elamah urged the new and returning governors to make use of the tax payers’ money judiciously by executing meaningful projects that would impact the lives of the people.
He said that tax payers should be treated like kings, adding: “Those in charge of revenue collection in various states and at the Federal level, must be accountable and transparent.
“They must make sure that taxes collected are used for the benefit of the general public and their well being.
“In tax collection, there is mistrust, fear in the whole system hence the need for tax administrators to ensure accountability and transparency.
“The taxpayers are now asking how the government use the taxes they paid, they are now asking for value for their money.
“Though, we collaborate with Nigeria Governors Forum, we are working together to make sure professionalism is maintained in tax administration.”
Elamah said that now that the general elections were over, it had become the responsibility of citizens to pay their taxes to support the incoming leaders.
