Some business owners have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the issue of multiple taxation challenges facing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the country.
According to a statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, the call was made at the 11th edition of Inspiring Change Conference 2024 with the theme ‘Enormous possibilities: Navigating uncertainty with confidence’ held in Lagos recently.
The stakeholders lamented that aside from contending with the challenges arising from the current unfavourable economic conditions, they were also being subjected to heavy taxation capable of grinding their businesses to a halt.
They also tasked the President to tackle the persistent poor electricity supply that had stifled economic growth for decades and attracted both local and foreign ridicule.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer of No Left-Overs Nigeria Limited, Mrs Ayodeji Megbope, said, “Our message to the President is to create an enabling environment for small business owners to conveniently operate by reducing the taxes on our businesses as multiple taxation is killing our businesses.
Once the tax agents that are all over the place see that a business is growing, the next thing is that they would pounce on the business owner which should be the other way round.
“Women business owners are working hard, operating under a very harsh economy in Nigeria of today and are expected to be encouraged.”
She called on women not to be discouraged by withdrawing from business but to understand that the marketplace is warfare and consequently be ready to follow due process.
Megbope added that learning a skill and continuous development would make women achievers and assist them in achieving their lofty dreams.
The founder/convener of Inspiring Change Conference, Adesunmbo Adeboye, advised women to refuse to be docile but rather discover their God-endowed potential, trust Him and be determined to shine despite the uncertainties around them.
She remarked that the conference had turned around a lot of women’s lives that had benefitted from the programme with outstanding testimonies.
Other speakers at the event included Mayokun Oreofe; personal finance coach, Jennifer Awirigwe and Morenike Molehin.
