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Oyo State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has kicked against the introduction of levies for burial, naming, chieftaincy, wake keep, engagement and other events in the state. APC described the move as another way to increase the level of hardship in the state. DAILY POST gathered that the state government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde introduced N35,000 as levy for burial, wedding ceremony and chieftaincy ceremonies in the state. The state government also introduced a sum of N25,000 as the levy for naming ceremony, birthday ceremony, wake keep, engagement and graduation ceremony in the state. The government also introduced levies for other events. This was contained in a document obtained by DAILY POST on Wednesday. But, APC in its reaction, described the new levies as anti-people. In a tatement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Wasiu Olawale Sadare, it called on Makinde to rescind the decision. Sadare said that civil servants, artisans, business owners and commercial motorists are already burdened by the existing taxes in the state. "Also, we call on Gov. Makinde to rescind his decision to start forcing residents to pay inherent taxes before hosting any social event in any part of the state. This call became imperative because the introduction of entertainment taxes, at this time, is akin to pushing the citizens to the wall. "We all know that the nation's fragile economy is biting hard on the masses while they bring the resilience in them to the fore by creating happiness for themselves through family and friends gathering in the name of social events. "The civil servants, artisans, business owners, commercial motorists (including danfo, okada and tricycle drivers or operators) are already burdened with taxes by the state government and asking them to pay entertainment taxes at the same time would further subject them to hardship and frustration. "Therefore, we urge the state government to suspend the policy immediately," it stated.
