Manufacturers seek speedy implementation of industrial incentives

Manufacturers, under the auspices of
Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun
State Chapter, have called on both the federal
and state governments to accelerate the
implementation of the recently reviewed
industrial incentives.
They also appealed to the government to gear
more effort towards the development of the
small and medium scale enterprises, saying
that the promotion of the sub-sector holds the
key to inclusive growth of the nation’s
economy.
Speaking at the 2013 Chief Executive Officers
and Managing Directors’ business luncheon at
Ota, Ogun State, the association’s chairman,
Mr. D.B Ogutuga, represented by the Vice-
chairman, Mr. Wale Adegbite, said there is
need for Ogun State government to provide an
enabling environment that is conducive for
industries in the state to thrive, while decrying
constant harassment by government agencies.
“Government should implement investment
incentives like tax holidays, tax reduction,
location incentives. Government should also
harmonise taxes and implement Joint Tax
Board Act 21 of 1998.
“These will provide investment guarantee
packages for specific industries, particularly
for those in the small and medium enterprises
categories. The implementation of these
incentives in Ogun State should be
accelerated,” he said.
He added, “There are unchecked and arbitrary
introduction of new taxes and levies by the
state and local government councils, thus
creating a situation of uncertainty and
ambiguity. These taxes and levies are contrary
to the constitution of Nigeria.
Our businesses are constantly being disrupted
and we are constantly under the threat of
closing down our factories for non-payment of
illegal taxes and levies.”
Ogutuga stated that Ogun State and Nigeria as
a whole require a lot of fine-tuning in order to
reduce the tardiness being witnessed in the
manufacturing sector and the consequent
prevailing high cost of production, which
renders Nigerian industries uncompetitive.
In his words, “Government must speedily take
actions aimed at boosting production and
subsequent generation of employment to check
the increasing discontent in the society, which
have manifested in different forms of social
malaise.”