A one-day joint taxpayer education and enlightenment program held in Awka has ended with a call for all taxable adults to react positively in payment of taxes to enable the government improve on infrastructural development in the state.

 

The enlightenment program with the theme, “Formalising the informal sector, the economic benefits”, was organised by the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, and attracted participants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as representatives of transportation unions, markets, among others.

Declaring the program open, the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Anambra State, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, said that payment of tax is purely a civic responsibility and sacrosanct, and that every taxable adult must comply, as the present administration is willing and eager to work with any money generated in the state.

 

He maintained that when the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration came on board, all the sectors in the state were yearning for resuscitation, reason the Soludo team immediately swung into action, constructing roads, providing security, education, healthcare, as well as taking all the basic responsibilities in making Anambra a livable and prosperous state.

He commended the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service for their efforts, more especially in closing all the leakages and introducing electronic pay direct system.

 

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Dr Greg Ezeilo, noted that his office has continued to educate the masses that payment of taxes is a statutory obligation, stating that as they are formalizing the process, it will be of help to get across to those who shy away from it, more especially business men and women.

He disclosed that there are enormous increases in what they met on ground, and a look in the state will testify that every money realised is used to develop the state infrastructure, pointing out that there is hope that they will do more when the formalization process takes place.

 

Also in his address, the sixteenth President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr Samuel Agbeluyi, who spoke through the Vice President, Mr Innocent Ohagwuah, maintained that the objective of the program was to provide valuable insights and knowledge for taxpayers, stakeholders and the general public concerning developments in taxation, tax obligations, changes in tax laws and policies, as well as the importance of taxation in meaningful fiscal requirements.

For the state Accountant General, Dr Chukwudi Okoli, the informal sector does not pay tax, describing it as bad omen, and stating that Governor Soludo is using the little he has to put up more infrastructural projects.

 

He said it behooves on all to pay their taxes in the state, and commended the AIRS boss, Dr Ezeilo, and team for raising the Internally Generated Revenue of the state from one point five billion to three billion per month.

Lending her voice, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue Technical, Mrs Kate Oyeka, called on all to join hands to boost the IGR of the state now that there is a Governor who is poised to developing the state to become a business hub and tourist center for all.

 

The lead paper presenter at the event, Chief Akachukwu Nwankpo, highlighted the benefits of formalizing the sector to include access to finance, link to value chain, improve performance, poverty reduction, social and political stability, among others.

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