The chairman, Federal Inland Income Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, has revealed that the popularity of casual work by the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has contributed to the drop in Nigeria’s unemployment index.
He revealed that the workforce within the casual sector in Nigeria accounts for about 92.6 p.c of the employed inhabitants within the nation as of the primary quarter of 2023.
Talking on the theme, “Taxation of the Casual Sector: Potentials and Challenges,” on the 157th Board assembly of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adedeji mentioned it might be higher for the nation to help and acknowledge the contributions of the casual sector, reasonably than taxing them.
He added that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be very involved concerning the welfare of staff within the sector.
“President Bola Tinubu has mentioned the main focus must be on taxing the fruits and never the seeds in order that we don’t kill what folks have invested in companies,” he mentioned.
In an announcement by his Technical Assistant on Media, Sikiru Akinola, the FIRS boss charged contributors on the assembly, together with the 36 states inland income board chairpersons to brainstorm on how one can convey formality to the casual sector with using dependable information.
He defined that JTB would quickly transition to the Joint Income Board (JRB) with expanded scope and tasks that may make tax techniques simply harmonised and modernised nationwide.
The FIRS chairman, who doubles because the chairman of the Joint Tax Board, recommended the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, for internet hosting the assembly.
Talking shortly after Adedeji, Governor Seyi Makinde requested for added help within the effort to widen the nation’s tax web.
“We should not solely be strategic but additionally humane in our strategy. The purpose mustn’t solely be to extend income however to help and empower these inside the casual financial system to allow them to thrive and contribute meaningfully.
“Our administration is dedicated to balancing fiscal duty with inclusive financial progress. Our current initiatives have improved our income era drive,” Makinde added.