The Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency, Dr Emmah Isong, has threatened to take legal actions against tax consultants and local government area chairmen still collecting tax and levies from those exempted from payment of tax in the state.
The Isong issued the threat on Thursday in a statement in Calabar while condemning roadblocks mounted for tax collection in the state councils.
He said, “It has come to the notice of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency that some newly-inaugurated chairmen of local government areas have resumed illegal collection of revenues and (mounting) check points contrary to Governor Ben Ayade’s directives of May 20, 2020, and Cross River State 2015 Tax Exemptions Law.”
He said while appreciating the need for councils, ministries, departments and agencies to step up their internally generated revenues, they should not collect tax from the exempted categories such as okada riders, keke NAPEP, taxi drivers, and owners of small businesses.
“The Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency shall not hesitate to recommend any defiant council executive or political appointee to the State House of Assembly for appropriate disciplinary actions and shall prosecute any tax agent or consultant before the newly constituted mobile courts.”