Sokoto Governor Aminu Tambuwal has signed a revised 2020 appropriation bill of N164 billion.
He also approved tax relief for businesses and suspension of levies for tax payers to cushion effects COVID-19 pandemic.
While signing the revised Appropriation Bill document before the commencement of the State Executive Council meeting, Tambuwal expressed satisfaction “with the new document which went through the mandatory legislative procedures.”
The previous appropriation document was N202,345,425,942.68.
Briefing reporters shortly after the Exco meeting, Commissioner for Finance, Abdussamad Dasuki, said government also provided tax reliefs and incentives for tax payers and businesses to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on residents and businesses operating in the state.
Dasuki disclosed that electronic payment platforms had been introduced to ease payment.
“The state government has also suspended the annual tax audit exercise for educational and entertainment sectors from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020,” he said.
The Commissioner explained the government extended the collection of land use charge for residential and commercial properties in the state from March 1, 2020 to September 30,2020.
Dasuki also disclosed the government has suspended imposition of presumptive tax levied on all businesses operating in the informal sectors from April 1, 2020 till December 31, 2020.
Other levies suspended, according to the Commissioner, include the payment of N100 state development levy imposed on every taxable person for the year 2020 and payment and deduction of water rates from the incomes of public servants, the public sector and private individuals in the state for two months (April to May 2020).
Also waived, he added, are 50% charge on fees and levies collectable across the state from March 1, 2020 till January 2021.
