Anambra State Government has given July 17 as deadline for the ongoing verification and enumeration exercise for tricycles, shuttle buses and other commercial vehicle operators in the state.
This was disclosed at a joint media briefing by the Ministries of Transport, Trade and Commerce, Information and the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, at Government House, Awka
According to the Chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo, the exercise was supposed to last for four weeks from the date of announcement and launching by the Governor, but was extended to two months.
Mr. Madiebo explained that the new tax regime was introduced by the present administration because it wants to create an economy which is at par with what is obtainable across the world as well as eliminate touting in the state.
While pointing out that the goal is to create a digital structure around taxation so that people can pay direct to the government and eliminate loss of revenue, the AIRS Boss explained that the resolution was based on an agreement with the stakeholders after series of engagements.
For the Commissioner for Transport, Barrister Pat Igwebuike, studies carried out by the state government indicate that, for instance keke riders paid as much as two thousand naira on a daily basis, to all sorts of revenue agents, which government intends to eliminate in a very transparent manner.
Dismissing daily collection as not being cost effective and astronomically high for the government, Barrister Igwebuike said that the six hundred naira per day covers the charge for using Anambra roads and maintaining the various government parks and recalled that for four months after inception, the present administration did not collect revenue from them in preparation for the new tax regime.
While explaining that the fund would accelerate development on Anambra roads and parks, Commissioner Igwebuike said that if the verification and enumeration exercise is successful, every commercial vehicle opetaor can be easily tracked which amounts to a win-win situation for everybody.
She stated that people alleged to be collecting revenue illegally are now under government radar and advised them to retrace their steps or face the full weight of the law.
On the news making the rounds that market levies were increased in the state, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Obinna Ngonadi dismissed it as lies, stating that fees paid across markets in Anambra have remained the same.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu informed the public that the state government will continue to give out adequate information to the public regarding its policies.
Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Christian Aburime, among other senior government officials were in attendance at the briefing.
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