As a follow-up to his first letter to the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu, on the need to address the impact of the COVID 19 lockdown in a holistic and pragmatic manner, the President of the La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye has reeled out modalities to ensure the success of the initiative.
Akinboboye posited that to jump-start this initiative and obtain the buy-in of the target citizens, the government must be seen to be involved in achieving the goal while citizens should also believe that there is an immediate and quantifiable reward for being their brother’s keeper.
“It is however obvious that to jump-start this initiative and obtain the buy-in of the target citizens, the government must be seen to have what is popularly referred to as ‘skin in the game’. Citizens should also believe there is an immediate and quantifiable reward for being their brother’s keeper” he wrote.
As part of the modalities, he wants the government to announce a tax rebate to citizens that contribute to the government’s feeding effort to incentivize them.
“Government should announce a tax rebate for citizens that contribute to the government’s feeding effort to encourage citizens to donate a specified amount each week despite what may also be the economic effect of COVID 19 on such citizens’ own pockets.
Corporate bodies and individuals that support the government in feeding the less privileged during any lockdown period by donating a specified amount each week will receive a 5% tax rebate on their total tax liability for the 2020 tax year, subject to a specified monetary cap equivalent to 75% of their aggregate contribution. In this regard, we would suggest the amount specified for corporate bodies should range from N10, 000 to N25,000 per week while the amount for individuals should range from N2000- N5000 per week. This rebate, in the case of corporate bodies, will apply to any tax to which they are liable in Lagos State. Our suggestion that such rebate is capped, we believe ensures that the monetary value of such rebate to a taxpayer will not exceed his /her/ its aggregate donations and guards against allegations that it is a ploy by which elites will unfairly ensure they pay significantly less tax than is normally due from them” he added.
Writing further, Akinboboye called for accountability and transparency in the way the donated funds are going to be managed.
“For accountability, the funds should be paid into designated bank accounts to be managed by trusted private bodies closely supervised by the government and audited by reputable audit firms. Regular updates should be given to the public on how many have been fed. It is anticipated that social media comments on such updates will verify the validity of such updates and confirm to citizens that the money is reaching its intended target” he added.