Managing Tax Justice Platforms 2019/2020
The Financing for Development, F4D project, supported by Oxfam and implemented in Nigeria by NDEBUMOG as one of the implementing partners for two of F4D’s outcomes (budget and tax), seeks to empower civil society and non-state actors to undertake research and advocacy to promote fair and progressive taxation by engaging governments at all levels to influence tax policies and participatory budget to address unfair tax practices, inequality and protection of the rights of citizens, especially, impoverished informal sector players, including women, linking the engagements to global, regional and national frameworks, such as, the Fair Tax Monitor (FTM), the Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index (CRII) and on Public Finance (expenditure) Management (PFM).
Realizing that Nigeria is a federation and majority of Nigeria’s citizens lives in the states and Local Government Areas. NDEBUMOG and Oxfam, convinced that the impacts of F4D shall be felt by mobilizing civil society groups to engage at that level. To compliment campaign activities of the National Tax Justice and Governance Platform at the national level, decision was taken on the need to establish Platforms in each of the 16 States of Southern Nigeria, which were the Focal States for the CRAFT project in Nigeria. Since 2013, CISLAC with support from Oxfam, carried out Tax Justice Advocacy Trainings for selected groups, comprising, CSOs, FBOs, Trade Unions and Market Associations, among others, in each of the state.In 2019, Oxfam mandated NDEBUMOG to take over management of these platforms to generate additional impacts and momentum at the state level. NDEBUMOG, with support from Oxfam, consolidated progress through support to each State Platform across the 16 states. Each platform was provided with support (funds) to enable them carry out range of activities within their respective states, aimed at achieving maximum impacts with measurable effects on the lives and welfare of the citizens.
Therefore, our gratitude goes to Business Development Community Network, Abeokuta, Centre for Rehabilitation of Exceptional Persons (CREP), Akure, Women Right Action Group (WRAG) Ibadan, Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Nnewi, Better Community Life Initiative (BECOLIN), Owerri, Operation Rescue, Yenagoa, International Centre for Women Empowerment and Child Development (ICWECD) Asaba, Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) Enugu, Development Animation Program (DAP) & Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation, Lagos, Action for Community Development, Benin City and Neighborhood Initiative for Women Advancement (NIWA), Ebonyi State. These are organizations that were engaged during SPP 4 in 2019. These are coordinating organizations of Tax Justice and Governance Platforms domiciled across Nigeria, except, for Lagos that there was leadership changed from Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation to Development Animation Program (DAP). The matured and peaceful manner (Lagos) transition took place, from Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation to DAP, without rancor, is worth commending. Importantly, these organizations were unique, mutually, in their relationship with NDEBUMOG during the period that management of Tax Justice Platforms was placed on us.
In documenting these impacts for historical equilibrium, NDEBUMOG published a book, titled: TAX & JUSTICE that encapsulates these efforts.
Please download the book Tax & Justice here.
