Ondo Guber: PDP’s Jegede promises friendly tax regime

The Peoples Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), has promised what he described as a friendly tax regime, if elected governor. He said citizens would be charged small amount, as tax, to encourage positive response.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the weekend, Jegede said the time is, indeed, economically challenging, adding that his government would adopt friendly measures to make people pay their dues to ensure that government serves them well.

He said: “To tax people is not an easy task. But then, if NURTW and Okada riders can collect money and you see them driving SUVs with customised plate numbers, it just goes to show that they have devised friendly ways of collecting taxes, in the sense that the money they pay is small, and they also have effective ways of enforcing, because they have people who are enforcers.”

He said while the use of enforcers may not be palatable to the people, friendly measures would go down well with them.

He said Ondo, as a civil service state, would disconnect financially from the centre.

“It would take some time, but it can be done and an industrial base will also be created in the southern belt, especially with the Omotosho power plant that will ensure power supply to the area,” he said.