Musicians urged to pay taxes regularly

The Caretaker Committee Chairman for Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kevin Lucciano Gabriel gave this advice after ameeting held between the Association’s leadership and Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) in Lagos.According to Gabriel, there is no pretence in the fact that the music industry is a money-spinning venture and as such performing musicians […]

The Caretaker Committee Chairman for Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Kevin Lucciano Gabriel gave this advice after ameeting held between the Association’s leadership and Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) in Lagos.
According to Gabriel, there is no pretence in the fact that the music industry is a money-spinning venture and as such performing musicians should have no excuse for defaulting in paying taxes regularly.
“Music is one hell of a money spinner in our country that contributes greatly to the GDP. Alongside Nollywood, it is the biggest employer of labour in Nigeria today generating millions of Naira in income for artistes.
“Consequently, it is the duty of every Nigerian musicians to pay taxon their earnings. If taxes are duly paid, this would automatically result in income for the state and by extension better public amenities. While we understand that a lot of artiste are not earning much, but a lot are also earning millions of Naira annually and so itis their civic duty to pay their taxes,” Gabriel said.
The PMAN caretaker chairman also called on the state to step up the campaign against piracy as this would ensure that artistes are not swindled by pirates and which of course will help many of them in being able to pay their taxes.
“When musicians earn good money then they can pay their taxes and this would culminate in a better Lagos State for us all,” he said.
An LIRS official who also corroborated Gabriel’s position said: “The need to pay taxes cannot be overemphasised. Payment of taxes will ensure the provision of better amenities which has been the objective of the Fashola administration since inception. For a more viral and effective Lagos, musicians need to begin to develop the culture of paying taxes.”