Market Leaders Lament Disjointed Tax System in Kwara
Key stakeholders including Kwara Market Leaders have cried out over burdensome and disjointed tax system in the state.
The Iyaloja General of Kwara State, Hajia Adenike Lambe disclosed this while speaking at a consultative meeting on tax justice organised by the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI), with support from CISLAC and funded by Christian Aid Nigeria in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Hajia Lambe lamented the impact of multiple taxation on market women, describing it as excessive and poorly coordinated.
She said many traders continue to pay levies without seeing corresponding improvements in public infrastructure or services.
FactualTimes reports that market leaders, civil society actors and academics warned that the current tax structure is stifling economic activity and alienating citizens from governance.
“Initially, there was resistance,” she said. “But market women eventually complied with district-based tax arrangements. Years later, there’s nothing to show for it. There are too many tax officers and little accountability.” The Iyaloja explained
She suggested a harmonised system where the Federal Government collects a single, cumulative tax and redistributes it proportionately—reducing the burden of dealing with multiple agents at different levels of government.
In his view, Pastor Ade Abodunde, representing Trios Human Development Foundation, linked excessive taxation to broader social issues, noting that economic pressure on households is contributing to school dropouts and increased cases of gender-based violence.
“Many parents can no longer meet basic needs because of taxes and levies. It’s pushing some young girls into dangerous situations,” he said. He called for regular, credible town hall meetings to bridge the trust gap between the government and citizens.
In the session on the role of civil society, Professor Khadijat Yahaya of the Society for Women in Taxation raised alarm over the planned removal of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) by 2030. She warned that scrapping the fund could damage Nigeria’s research and education infrastructure, saying it remains a vital tool for institutional development.
Mr. Olaoye, a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, shared personal experiences dealing with overlapping tax demands across different states. He described the current system as confusing and unsustainable, and called for serious policy review and implementation of practical reforms.
The meeting also featured a co-creation session moderated by Mr. Sanni Issa Alausa, BBYDI’s Communications Director. Participants were grouped into three clusters to draft policy recommendations on inclusive tax compliance, grievance redress, and CSO-government collaboration.
Key proposals included the need for clear taxpayer education, simplified compliance procedures, and stronger oversight of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS).
Participants also called for progressive taxation policies that prioritise the poor, the creation of a comprehensive taxpayer database to reduce ambiguity, and whistleblower mechanisms to enhance accountability.
The event closed with a collective call for a transparent, citizen-friendly tax system that reflects the realities of ordinary Nigerians and restores public confidence in fiscal governance.