By Gerry Okechukwu
According To The Reported Tax Laws, the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) formerly Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has given itself the power to create its own Police Force; to arrest, investigate, And Sell The Assets Of Tax Defaulters without a court order.
The new tax laws will destroy the Igbo tribe!
The implications of these powers for ndi Igbo who are mainly business people, landlords, and culturally build their homes both in the village and wherever they reside.
Analysis of Implications for the Igbo Community.
Given the Igbo demographics as dominant players in commerce, real estate (landlords), and with deep cultural investment in homeland property, these powers, if abused, pose a disproportionate threat to us. The implications are multi-layered:
1. Economic & Business Implications
a) Target-Rich Environment: Igbo entrepreneurs dominate SMEs, import/export, and transportation across Nigeria. An aggressive, unchecked FIRS would see ndi Igbo as a primary target for revenue generation.
b) Weaponization of Tax Audits: The fear is that these powers could be weaponized for non-tax purposes: to settle business rivalries, intimidate vocal critics, or extract bribes The threat of sudden asset seizure becomes a powerful tool of coercion. If your property is seized, 20% of the estimated tax bill must be paid before you can begin the appeal process.
c) Capital Flight & Business Closure: The uncertainty could lead to hesitancy to invest in visible, taxable assets, thereby destroying our economic dominance.
2. Cultural and Social Implications
a) The Threat to “Ụlọ” (The Home/Homestead): For us the Igbo, a person’s ancestral or self-built home (ụlọ) is not just an asset; it is the ultimate symbol of achievement, identity, and security. The idea that it could be targeted for seizure over a tax dispute is culturally existential. It would be seen not just as a financial loss but as a profound social and spiritual attack. When these properties are seized and auctioned, they will be opened for any person to purchase them. Fulani, Yoruba, and any other tribe can buy them up, thereby destroying the demograph of our village. THIS IS RUGA THROUGH THE BACKDOOR. With foreigners becoming part of our village structure, in no distance future, Igbo land will be ISLAMISED and taken over.
b) Landlords at Risk: Many Igbo families have built economic resilience through rental properties. These properties are now more exposed to administrative seizures. A mistake or disputed assessment could lead to the loss of a family’s primary income-generating asset.
3. Political and Perceptual Implications
a) Exacerbation of Marginalization Grievances: This is a continuation of the systemic discrimination and the use of state power against the Igbo. Even if applied universally, the impact would be disproportionately felt by us. It is the reinforcement of persecution.
b) Erosion of Trust in the Government: The government’s role shifts from a regulator to be engaged with, to a predatory force to be feared and avoided. Compliance becomes based on fear, not civic duty. We, the Igbo people, will be extorted just as they are doing with the excessive checkpoints on our roads.
4. Legal and Human Rights Implications
a) Violation of Due Process: The principle of audi alteram partem (hear the other side) is circumvented. The right to a fair hearing before an independent judge before property is taken is a cornerstone of justice.
b) Presumption of Guilt: The process becomes “seize first, argue later,” reversing the presumption of innocence. The burden and cost of challenging the seizure fall entirely on the citizen.
c) Conflict with Constitutional Rights: This likely conflicts with Section 44 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to property and states that no property shall be taken possession of compulsorily without the authority of a law that, among other things, requires prompt compensation and access to a court or tribunal.
Conclusion: A Potent Threat to the Igbo core foundation.
The grant of such sweeping administrative powers to FIRS is problematic for ndi Igbo due to our economic strength which is in commerce and our cultural core is tied to real property, it represents a unique and severe threat.
It creates a scenario where:
a) our economic engine (businesses) can be shut down on administrative fiat.
c) Our store of wealth and identity (homes and real estate) is placed in greater jeopardy.
d) Since the tax bill will be estimated, there’s no protection for ndi Igbo whatsoever. For example, one could be given a #100m tax bill. This means that to begin the process of appeal, one will first of all pay 20% of the bill, which is #20m. If that money is not paid within a short time, the property will be put for auction, and the property is lost.
This is not just a tax policy; it is an existential economic and cultural assault, potentially destabilizing ndi Igbo entrepreneurial communities. The potential for abuse, perception of targeted enforcement, and erosion of fundamental rights make this one of the most consequential governance issues for ndi Igbo today.
