Multiple taxation report is one of the biggest issues for women and young people in Rivers State. Our research found that the current system disproportionately harms them, prompting a call for greater awareness about the impacts on their lives and the need for reform by the Rivers State Government (RSG). They want the system to be fixed, and call on the RSG to design policies and initiatives to address this pressing issue.
In the course of the research, we explored the causes and impacts of multiple taxation on citizens and businesses. The findings demonstrate that although the Rivers State Government claims it ended multiple taxation in 2023, the problem persists, allowing a few with power to steal the hard-earned income of citizens, through an inefficient tax regime characterised by corruption, intimidation, and often violence.
This research is based on a survey of 1,200 business owners, a focus group discussion with tax collection officials and civil society groups, and interviews with several informal business associations, illegal collection agents (also known as ‘touts’), and their bosses. These were conducted in March 2024. The research builds on a similar study conducted by PIND in Rivers, Abia, and Delta States (2022), as well as several media investigations, and academic journals.
The objective of this document is to inform the public and the government about the causes and impacts of multiple taxation and to propose potential solutions. By doing so, we hope to contribute to the development of a fairer and more efficient tax system in Rivers State.
