British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960

This paper focuses on post-war fiscal and economic policies in colonial Benin between 1945 and 1960. It was the period of British economic reconstruction occasioned by the effect of the Second World War. The paper therefore examines the impact of the post-war fiscal reforms on tax and expenditure pa...

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Main Authors: Frank Ikponmwosa, Collins Osayuki Edigin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2023-12-01
Series:The Thinker
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2862
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author Frank Ikponmwosa
Collins Osayuki Edigin
author_facet Frank Ikponmwosa
Collins Osayuki Edigin
author_sort Frank Ikponmwosa
collection DOAJ
description This paper focuses on post-war fiscal and economic policies in colonial Benin between 1945 and 1960. It was the period of British economic reconstruction occasioned by the effect of the Second World War. The paper therefore examines the impact of the post-war fiscal reforms on tax and expenditure patterns of the British authorities in Benin. It gives a robust analysis, as a background, of the goal and effect of the British economic reforms in her colonies. The study argues that the main objective of the British was to promote fiscal policies in order to revamp the metropolitan economy battered by the Second World War. Thus, at the Benin protectorate or division, the tax assessment rate was relatively high compared to the level of income paid by the colonial authorities, in order to create surplus for expenditure. This created discontents and petitions from different local communities against the assessment rate. The paper shows that the expenditure level, especially on social services, was low compared to the tax revenue generated. It adopts the historical method of research which utilised data obtained from both primary and secondary sources for interpretation and analysis. It’s on aspects of the Benin Division in Benin Province, created in 1914, as one of the administrative divisions, by the British which comprises of the Benin speaking people of southern Nigeria. It subsequently became part of the Western Region in 1945 following the constitution of regional government in Nigeria.
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spelling doaj.art-f35da0bf729c46e5878c5ecca43d830a2024-01-12T11:31:25ZengUniversity of JohannesburgThe Thinker2075-24582616-907X2023-12-019788100British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960Frank Ikponmwosa0Collins Osayuki Edigin1University of BeninUniversity of BeninThis paper focuses on post-war fiscal and economic policies in colonial Benin between 1945 and 1960. It was the period of British economic reconstruction occasioned by the effect of the Second World War. The paper therefore examines the impact of the post-war fiscal reforms on tax and expenditure patterns of the British authorities in Benin. It gives a robust analysis, as a background, of the goal and effect of the British economic reforms in her colonies. The study argues that the main objective of the British was to promote fiscal policies in order to revamp the metropolitan economy battered by the Second World War. Thus, at the Benin protectorate or division, the tax assessment rate was relatively high compared to the level of income paid by the colonial authorities, in order to create surplus for expenditure. This created discontents and petitions from different local communities against the assessment rate. The paper shows that the expenditure level, especially on social services, was low compared to the tax revenue generated. It adopts the historical method of research which utilised data obtained from both primary and secondary sources for interpretation and analysis. It’s on aspects of the Benin Division in Benin Province, created in 1914, as one of the administrative divisions, by the British which comprises of the Benin speaking people of southern Nigeria. It subsequently became part of the Western Region in 1945 following the constitution of regional government in Nigeria.https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2862beninbritish colonialismpost-war fiscal reformscolonial fiscal policies
spellingShingle Frank Ikponmwosa
Collins Osayuki Edigin
British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
The Thinker
benin
british colonialism
post-war fiscal reforms
colonial fiscal policies
title British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
title_full British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
title_fullStr British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
title_full_unstemmed British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
title_short British Colonial Post-War Fiscal Policies in Benin, Nigeria: 1945–1960
title_sort british colonial post war fiscal policies in benin nigeria 1945 1960
topic benin
british colonialism
post-war fiscal reforms
colonial fiscal policies
url https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/2862
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