Oxfam, others want tax policies review to tackle corruption, poverty

The Oxfam Nigeria has called for a review of tax policy to reverse the current trend of payment of higher taxes by the vulnerable in the society than the rich, as part of measures to reduce poverty and corruption in the country.

The Acting Country Director, Oxfam Nigeria Mr. Hamzat Ahmed Tijani, made the call on Thursday in Abuja on the sideline of the ‘Fiscal Accountability for Inequality Reduction FAIR4AlLL Media Colloquium and Exhibition’.

Represented by Acting Head of Programmes, Oxfam Nigeria, Dr William Mafwalal, said the programme was organised by Oxfam Nigeria in collaboration with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Connected Development (CODE), Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Council (CISLAC), BudgIT and Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre.

He frowned at current practice of payment of higher or multiple taxes by market women and farmers, saying the inequality is a contributing factor to the high rate of poverty in the society.