Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) said that the government can ensure peace and jusice in the country only when it effectivelly collecte tax the economy generate.
PM made this remark today at AU meeting hall at a conferce organized by the Minity of Revenue to raise awareness on the essence of paying tax and consequence that could entain in failing to so.
According to the PM, the task of ensuring peace and justice needs money and that source of money the government could get from is tax.
“Tax to oxygen for government”, the PM said highling the very essence of tax to spen on development of the communities who do not have access to basic service including health and education.
He alsos aid that effectively collecting tax also help the country stregntheining the effort of building democratic insitutions , and taxpayers should come to belive paying tax as “symobol of loving children and the country.”
The PM said the government will introduce new system to improve taxation system so that taxpares will get service easily. He also added that the government will not tolerate taxpares or civil servant who involve in tax fraud.
Ministry Adanech Abebe on her part said that paying tax on time and accurately will help the coutry ensure fair distribution of wealth that the people complaining for.
“Tax is not personal money, it is the debet of the country,” she said.
According to her, the country’s plan of becoming a middle income economy by 2017 E.C will be realized when the economy generates get collected.
She added that strong corrective measures are going to be taken against business people who enagage in tax fraud, contraband tarde and non-bank financial transactions.
The contribution of tax to the country’s economy is 10.7 percent, the amount lower even compared to avarege of sub-saharan counties.