CONTROVERSY IN OYO: APC Slams Govt Over New N35,000 Levies On Burial, Wedding, Chieftaincy Titles
By Titilola Olaniyan,
Oyo State Chapter of All progressive Congress APC has kicked against the introduction of levies for burial, naming, chieftaincy, wake keep, and other events in the state.
APC described the step as another way of increasing the level of difficulties in the state.
It was gathered that the state government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde introduced #35,000 as levy for burial, wedding and chieftaincy ceremony in the state.
The government also introduced a sum of #25,000 as the levy for naming ceremony, birthday ceremony, wake keep, engagement and graduation ceremonies, alongside other events in the state.
But APC in its reactions described the new levies as anti – people.
In a statement signed by the secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, it called on the governor to rescind the decision.
Sadare said, the business owners, Civil servants, Artisans, and commercial motorists are already burdened by the existing taxes in the state.
“Also, we call on Gov.Makinde to revoke his decisions to start forcing residents to pay inherent taxes before hosting any social events in any part of the state. The call became imperative because the introduction of entertainment taxes, at this time, is comparable to pushing the citizen to wall.
“We all know that the nation’s tight economy is biting hard on the masses while they bring the resilience in them to the fore by creating happiness for themselves through family and friends gathering in the name of social events.
“The Artisans, Civil Servants, business owners, Commercial motorist, are already burdened with taxes by state government and asking them to pay entertainment taxes at the same time would further subject them to hardship and frustration.
“In the light of the policy’s far-reaching implications, we implore the state government to exercise prudence and suspend its implementation with immediate effect, pending further review and consultation.”