The Igbo Youth Congress (IYC) in Kogi state has lamented over the multiple and heavy taxation on their businesses by the Kogi State Inland Revenue Service (KGIRS).

The President Igbo Youth Congress (IYC), Chief Iweha Empire, appealed to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to look into how Kogi Inland Revenue Service’s mode of collection of taxes from businesses in the state. He explained that many Igbo traders have relocated to other states due to harsh tax policy of the Kogi Internal Revenue Service imposed the traders and other businesses.

Chief Iweha told Journalists on Monday after the inauguration of the newly elected executive committee of the Congress in Lokoja on Monday that the KGIRS are over taxing thereby impeding smooth business transactions in the state.

“A system where you will be asked to provide records of every sales for the purpose of taxation, amounts to double taxation because it is possible that not all sales come from Kogi.

” It means those businesses with branches in other states will be subjected to tax in other states as well as Kogi state”.

The Youth Leader said. This, he said, also amounts to multiple taxation which hinders smooth business operations and very discouraging.

The President, who appreciated the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for being a detribalised leader and magnanimous by giving the Igbo Youths and the entire Igbo community in the state a free hand and conducive environment to operate their businesses, assured their unflinching support and loyalty to the government.

He however called on the governor to do more in the area of security as the Igbo community in the state has suffered series of kidnapping and other vices in recent times.

”No business can strive in an atmosphere of insecurity, that is why we are calling on the governor who have demonstrated over the years that he has listening ear to almost every request we ever presented to him, we also have the confidence that this one would be looked into” he added.

Chief Iwoha Empire promised to make unification of all members resident in the state cardinal principle on which his administration would operate in the next four years that the new executive committee would steer the affairs of the Igbo Youth Congress.