The Bauchi State government through the Bauchi State Trade Facilitation Centre has called on the Federal Inland Revenue Service to support failing businesses in the North-East to thrive.
The coordinator of the centre, Bala Mahmud, made the call when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit while canvassing the collaboration.
He explained that following the ruination of the sub region occasioned by the decades of insurgency in the region, “more than any part of the country, northeast deserves to be favoured.”
Continuing, Mahmud insisted, “There should be a special incentive for the North-East so as to promote the businesses.”
He maintained that “collaboration between the centre and the FIRS is very significant in order to further achieve the promotion of businesses in the state.”
Mahmud underscored the establishment of an agricultural marketing board, which, according to him, will assist the government in regulating the prices of food commodities.
The coordinator emphasised that the government at the federal level must look inward and work with farmers directly to solve Nigeria’s problems in the food markets.
He appreciated the service for excluding small businesses from paying tax in the states.
Also speaking, the Focal Officer, BSTFC, Jummai Bala, tabled the complaints of small business owners who have been reaching out to the centre to lament their tax burden.
Bala stated, “They come to our office complaining of multiple taxations. These taxes are making some of them give up on the investment. I hope FIRS will help out to give breathing air for our small businesses,”she noted.
She disclosed that the Bauchi State government is working towards promoting business, including revitalising dying companies in the state.
According to her, the state government has inaugurated the bureau of privatisation headed by the Bauchi State Deputy Governor, Auwal Jatau, to facilitate the revitalisation.
Responding, the Tax Controller Small Tax Office Bauchi of the FIRS, Munkaila Abubakar observed that tax consultants have dominated the process.
While urging the centre to sensitise the business environment in the state on the benefits of paying their taxes, he assured, “Wherever our collaboration and assistance is needed, we will come in.
“We appreciate the centre for finding FIRS worthy of collaboration.”