Why we can’t pay tax to local govt – Contractor
By Damilola Kushimo
The management of the construction company, De-Prinocc Construction Company, handling the Oke-Ogbere Link Bridge, has said that paying tax to the local government would amount to double taxation after remitting tax to the purse of the federal government.
Speaking with ECHONEWS, the Managing Director/CEO of the company, Ambassador Prince Yommy Ogungbe disclosed that his company has been paying tax to National Inland Waterways Authorities (NIWA) since it started the Bridge project in Isolo LCDA.
He explained: “It will amount to double taxation if we pay tax again to local government because we remit money to National Inland Waterways Authorities (NIWA) yearly as the project falls under the control of NIWA. Local government has its own jurisdiction. If we are to remit money as tax to state or local government, it is double taxation. Encouragement from the local government is all we need to maintain such developmental project by embarking on infrastructural development to complement our efforts.”
Meanwhile, he implored governments to encourage local construction companies by awarding contracts to them.
Speaking on the newly constructed Bridge scheduled to be commissioned on Thursday, December 5, Ogungbe explained that his company is ready to work with any government to bridge developmental gap in the local areas for civilization and development, stressing that more public-private partnership (PPP) with local companies should be encouraged to strengthen the economy of the country.
“My company is ready to work with any government. This isn’t the first construction we’ll be handling and we will be more encouraged if government can do more in PPP with local construction companies like ours and many others.
“Not until we get to Germany to go and bring Julius Berger to Nigeria, the government should allow more local construction companies to handle projects. Look at what happened of recent, the government was angry that all the roads in Lagos have spoiled but remember they were n’t built by Nigerian company that did those roads; many of them were handled by Chinese companies.
“Can we go to China to handle their infrastructural projects? Can China give us work to do? Germany owns Julius Berger but handles projects in Nigeria. Just recent a Julius Berger truck plied our bridge and a man was telling them that the strong bridge was done by a Nigerian company.
“The government should give us more encouragement, there are so many people out there better than I am and are much ready to do great innovations like this, government should do well in awarding contracts to local construction companies.”
ECHONEWS observed that the bridge is constructed with dual paths for both vehicles and pedestrians; 24-hour Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), 100KVA Standby generator, a mini market, a restaurant as well as lightening to complement patrols of security operatives from neighbouring police stations.
