Bread Levy: Discordant Tunes In Kogi As Deputy Gov, Commissioner Disagree

Related stories

U.S. Remittance Tax Casts Shadow Over African Economies

By Sonny Iroche A new bill passed by the U.S....

Akwa-Ibom Commissioner Defies Gov Umo Eno, Resigns, Says I Can’t Join Gov In APC

By Kolawole Ojebisi The commissioner for special duties and Ibom...

Trump Vs Musk: JD Vance Declares Support For US President Amid Online Row

By Kolawole Ojebisi US Vice President J.D. Vance has weighed...

Exclusive: Inside Details Of Sanwo-Olu’s Alleged Strained Ties With Tinubu

How Lagos Gov's Attendance of Achimugu’s 50th Birthday...

Revealed! The most beautiful city in Africa

Europe is home to several famous mega-cities, from London...
  • Kogi Govt Did Not Propose Devilish Tax Regime, Says Deputy Gov
  • Information Commissioner, Trade Ministry Back Imposition Of Tax

By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General Desk)

The Kogi state government has backtracked on his plan to impose levy on loaves of bread being sold in the state amid discordant tunes among the state’s executive members.

The state government had recently issued a statement to levy every loaf of bread sold in Kogi, a move that the government claimed was meant to protect indigenous bakers from those who bring bread to the state without paying any form of levy.

The decision to levy bakers of bread attracted criticism. Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani reacted in a tweet that the governor was turning bread into stone after appearing to have defeated coronavirus.new Bread Levy in kogi

Read also:

Lekki Shootings: South West Ministers Present Recommendations To Buhari

Alleged Name Dropping: Ex-Imo Governor, Ikedi Ohakim Arraigned, Gets N10m Bail

EXPLAINER: How Joe Biden Won 2020 US Presidential Election

“After defeating COVID in Kogi, Bello the priest is miraculously turning bread into stone,” the former lawmaker wrote.

The Kogi state government appeared to have backtracked on Saturday after it condemned the same tax levy it imposed on loaves of bread to be marketed in the state.

Kogi deputy governor, Mr Edward Onoja made this known in a statement.

It was gathered that the state government in a plan to generate revenue, hired a consultant, Musag Enterprises to levy bakers and caterers for every loaf of bread and confectionery they produce in the state.

The state’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry made the introduction on Nov 9, through a memo signed by its permanent secretary, Usman Ibrahim.

The memo was addressed to the chairperson, Association of Master bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Kogi State branch. The collection of the levy was billed to commence on Monday.

Read also:

#EndSARS: Lagos Urges Courts To Speed Up Release Of 253 Arrested Persons

No Threat To Peace, Security In Oil Producing Areas – Delta Govt

Soku Oilfield: Supreme Court Strikes Out Bayelsa Suit, Cautions Against Abuse Of Process!

But the levy which attracted criticism to the state government because it was coming at a time most businesses have not recovered from the economic effects of the pandemic, was also justified by the state’s Commissioner of information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo.

Fanwo had said the levy was not new and that the engagement of a firm to collect them was one of the state’s strategies for protecting its indigenous bakers.

He said indigenous bakers in the state had complained of poor patronage due to bakers who pay no tax to the state bringing bread from outside the state to sell in Kogi.

But the Deputy Governor on Saturday countered the Commissioner and the Kogi Ministry of Trade and Industry when he disapproved of the planned levy. He said the governor was not aware of the agreement between the ministry and the consultancy firm.

He added that the government vehemently condemned the devilish bread levy and it was not approved by the state executive council.

“For the records, neither the Governor nor the state executive council has imagined or proposed such a devilish tax regime, how much less imposing same on any food or essential commodity, not to mention bread which is a table staple and the basic lifeline of many a household.

Read also:

Obaseki Renames Osarodion Ogie As Edo SSG, Puts off Cabinet till 2021

Delta Finally Identifies Cause Of ‘Mysterious Deaths’ In State

Again, Bode George Attacks Tinubu, Accuses ex-Gov Of Leaking Lagos Revenue

“I am directed by His Excellency to give the lie to news of an alleged tax imposed on each loaf of bread to be sold in Kogi State. There is no iota of truth in the claims that we have approved such wickedness, because we have not and cannot,” he said.

Onoja said he was also shocked by the planned levy as it was against government stand that the people of Kogi State must not be subjected to any act or policy that will increase their pains in this Covid-19 season.

The Deputy Gov who outlined Government’s intervention on the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the people said the tax levy on bread runs contrary to the state government policy.

He said, “It is well-documented in the media that Governor Yahaya Bello has fought powerful forces, more than any other governor perhaps, to keep his people safe. As CoviD-19 ravaged the country and the world he has mobilised them for lifestyle changes that defeated the virus in the state. He spared them lockdowns and the inherent disruptions to their lives and livelihoods characteristic of covid responses in other places.

“He scrupulously obeyed WHO and NCDC guidelines to provide testing to high risk individuals. He relied on pioneering use of Rapid Test Kits for the coronavirus long before they became mainstream. He responded swiftly with contact tracing and quarantines on all suspected cases”.

Onoja said that those behind the tax levy would be identified out and dealt with .

“We will not tolerate our own officials trying to profiteer off our people in any way, or even acting ill-advisedly in manners that cause them any form of distress,” he said.

He assured that any business which has met the regulatory requirements for doing business in Kogi State including payment of routine tax is entitled to operate freely, and that includes bakeries and bread traders.

Read also:

Fuel Price Hike: Commuters, Drivers Groan As Filling Stations Adjust Pump Price

Imo Assembly’s Speaker: Uzodinma Consolidates with Emeziem after Collins Impeachment

#EndSARS: Why We’re Not Happy With Sanwo-olu, Nigerian Army Tells Lagos Judicial Panel

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
U.S. Remittance Tax Casts Shadow Over African EconomiesAkwa-Ibom Commissioner Defies Gov Umo Eno, Resigns, Says I Can't Join Gov In APCTrump Vs Musk: JD Vance Declares Support For US President Amid Online RowExclusive: Inside Details Of Sanwo-Olu’s Alleged Strained Ties With TinubuRevealed! The most beautiful city in AfricaElon Musk’s Fortune Plummets By $34 Billion As Feud with Trump EscalatesGov. Umo Eno: Why I Dumped PDP For APC[Video] Akwa Ibom: Gov Umo Eno Officially Defects to APC in Major Political ShiftOtedola Hails Dangote's Refinery As "Eighth Wonder Of The Modern Era"Tears as Mohammed Uwais, ex- Chief Justice of Nigeria, Dies at 89Trump Slams Musk in Explosive Fallout Over Policy ClashNo Untouchables, I'll 'Touch' Abuja Wealthy And Heavens Won't Fall -- Wike BoastsTears As Nigeria's Ex-Ambassador To US, Jubril Aminu, Dies At 85"Why Wike's Politics Should Be Studied At Universities," Says Ooni of IfeUsing FOI Act As Blackmail tool Not Activism But Sabotage -- NEITI Warns
X whatsapp