A Social services bill seeking for residents of Rivers State to pay levies have so far not received the backing of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The social services bill seeks to place diverse annual and monthly levies on workers, business executives and professionals resident in Rivers State with the purpose of servicing the health and education sectors of the state.
Jones Ogbonda who is the House committee chairman on Social Welfare told newsmen at the assembly premises that that the bill failed to get the approval of the stakeholders during its public hearing.
“Even though they agreed that it would achieve something good, they frowned at the fact that the bill would be unjust, discriminatory and contradictory to Federal Laws,” Ogbonda said.
“All stakeholders were enormous in their support of the bill but argued that all taxes are meant to provide social services so it would be tantamount to double taxation is implemented,” Ogbonda said.
However, speaker of the House, Tonye Harry insisted that the bill would still be up for debate at a later date after they must have reconciled all areas of disagreement.
Opponents of the bill argue that it does not consider the sufferings of the people in the state.
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