The Delta State Government has said that creating platform for interaction with investors would boost economic development in the state, adding that to ensure investors show interest on their threshold investment, there was need for continued interfacing and interaction at all times.
Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Festus Ovie Agas who spoke to journalists yesterday in Asaba, justified the decision of government to create platform for continued interaction with potential investors, locally and internationally to enhance the viability of the investments.
Disclosing that 2, 000 investors had entered into MOU with the state government, the SSG expressed optimism that the MOUs would be mutually beneficial to both parties, adding that the partnership would engender the desired platform that will further ensure the successes of the policy thrust of the present administration, especially in the strong link with the SMART Agenda.
He noted that the interactive platform with investors, would strengthen the hopes of beneficiaries of the State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP) and Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme Step a new vista to interact with the world, adding the measures were aimed at providing opportunity for people to own, operate and manage business activities.
The SSG explained that the platform will keep the people updated on the event, policies and programmes of the state government. On multiple taxation, the SSG called on federal, state and local governments to exercise some caution on the issue of multiple taxation, with a warning that the time has come for the tiers to draw a line between tax imposition and collection.
He said that the call had become necessary in view of the negative effects of multiple taxation on the nation’s economy, the need to properly define what tax is to the average Nigerian and the uncivilized way some government agencies and agents go about imposing or collects tax.
Disclosing that some government agencies were beginning to impose and collect tax arbitrarily as against what is allowed by law, the SSG expressed sadness that even in the 21st century, Nigerians and investors (Foreign and Local) were yet to have a comprehensive tax list which only the finance minister with the Joint Tax Board can expand.
To this end, the SSG said there was need to strike a balance between what the law provides and what some government agencies and “touts” are doing in the name of tax collection or imposition.