Women’s rights activist and development advocate, Ene Obi, has advocated for social amenities, benefits and protection for commercial sex workers if they are made to pay taxes.

Obi made this call on Saturday when she featured in an interview programme on Arise Television.

She said that more than 100 million Nigerians are living below the poverty line, stressing that the burden of poverty often falls on women.

“When you are talking about taxation and you are talking about commercial sex workers, I think we need to step back a little because of issues of human rights.

“You are looking at taxation and tax justice, who are you taxing? If you are looking at Nigeria right now, I will say more than 100 million Nigerians are living below the poverty line, and the burden of poverty often falls on women.

“So, if sex workers are made to pay taxes, they should also have access to social amenities, benefits, and protection. They face gender-based violence more,” she said.

Sex workers should have access to social amenities, protection if made to pay taxes – Ene Obi