…As Assembly passes three bills into law
By: Felix Ikpotor
In a bid to shore up the internally generated revenue base of the state, the Rivers State Government has imposed a four percent tax on any consumable consumed in a hotel, bar, event centres etc in the state.
This is sequel to the passing into law the Rivers State Hotel Occupancy and Consumption Bill, 2016.
The assembly yesterday, also passed into law two other bills, the Rivers State Taxes and Levies (Miscellaneous) Bill, 2016.
Sections of this bill shows that taxes are to be imposed on farm produce and fishing produce.
Debating on the bills before its passage into law, lawmakers representing Khana Constituency1 and Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni Constituency1 respectively, Barieene Deeyah and Christian Ahiakwo both appealed to the house to review the four percent further down to around three percent in other not to stifle business in the tourism sector of the state as they noted that tourism is the next highest employer of labour in the state at present especially as the price of oil has dropped.
The lawmakers equally argued that farm and fishing produce should not be taxed.
However, the speaker of the assembly, while passing the bills into law said the assembly is a responsible one and understands the plight of the people so it cannot pass any bill that would affect any sector of the economy negatively.
Similarly, the assembly during their sitting passed into law the Port Harcourt Polytechnic Bill, 2016 which confers a polytechnic status to the former Rivers State College of Arts and Science, RIVCAS.
The three bills were forwarded to the assembly by the governor.
