The Lagos State government has directed all its revenue agencies to commence enforcement of tax payment by all defaulters in the state.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the state, Mr Steve Ayorinde, gave the directive on Monday in a statement signed by him.
He decried the failure of many residents to pay their taxes, a situation he said would adversely affect the infrastructural renewal drive of the state government.
Ayorinde, therefore, said that government had concluded plans to go all out to enforce the tax laws to bring more Lagosians (Lagos residents) into the tax net.
He recalled that the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had recently expressed concern that only about 600,000 Lagosians were up to date in paying their taxes.
The commissioner, however, said government remains committed to completing all ongoing projects on schedule but that it was largely dependent on prompt payment of taxes by residents in the state.
According to him, some of the major ongoing projects include the Oshodi Transport Interchange and the reconstruction of Oshodi International Airport Road among others.
He hinted that government has also commenced the construction of over 20 networks of roads within the boundaries of Lagos and Ogun states, to ease movement and enhance business activities between the two states.
“These projects have already begun in earnest. The construction of the 181 roads earmarked across the 57 local councils, which is now an annual ritual of this government, will commence anytime soon and much more too numerous to mention,” Ayorinde said.
“The will and commitment of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration are to ensure that all these projects are completed before 2019, but the possibility of achieving such will require taxable citizens of the state who have not been paying their taxes to start doing so.
“This administration is grateful to Lagosians who have supported the government, particularly in the discharge of their civic responsibility through payment of taxes. That is the oil that keeps the engine and wheels of government moving smoothly but when there are no resources, these laudable projects would be stalled.
“No government in the world can achieve its set out objectives without funds and these funds are available largely from what residents pay as taxes. It is, therefore, expedient that taxes should be paid correctly as at when due”, he added.
