A tax expert with an international consulting firm has said that it’s only when people are employed that they can pay tax, just as companies cannot pay taxes unless they make profits. He noted that anything other than this would be harassment, and hurting to the citizenry.

“It’s unfortunate, things are hard generally, but government needs to have a re-think. The Federal Government has to reform its tax system. It’s when people are employed that they can pay tax likewise, when companies make profits.”

Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, Partner/Head of Tax and Regulatory Services, PriceWaterhouseCoopers Ltd (PwC) stated this during an exclusive chat with News Express at a one day capability enhancement workshop for journalists, held in Protea Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, over the weekend.

Oyedele added that the 2016 budget took too long, and when it was passed, funds were not quickly released for implementation. “The private sector is the engine room of growth. Therefore, government needs to work with private sector and focus more on other segments of the oil and gas sector such as refining, other than exporting only.”

Mr. Victor Olorunfemi, Technology and Innovation Lead, PwC, urged journalists to stamp their feet as the fourth estate of the realm: thought shapers, fact-checkers and custodians of true reporting and accountability, using and exploring social media devices to reach out to more people.

On his part, Mr. Moshood Olajide, Lawyer and Associate Director, of the firm, journalists should make use the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to enhance good governance.

“Human rights, civil society organisations, etc, are effectively making use of the FoI Act,

taking government agencies to court - unlike the press. Though it has its challenging, but gradually, it will be a useful tool to hold government accountable,” he said.

•Photo shows FIRS Chairman Tunde Fowler.