By Charles Ogbonnaya
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu has called on Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State and stakeholders on revenue generation to work in synergy with the Government to achieve an increased revenue drive to boost the state economy.
Sir Oko Chukwu who made the call during a meeting with members of the State Internally Generated Revenue Council and Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of the State, described the meeting as very apt in view of the strategic roles all the stakeholders play in revenue generation of the State, aimed at ensuring harmony in revenue collection.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman State Internally Generated Revenue Council reiterates Government’s resolve to run an IGR system that is seamless and minimize the problem of double taxation in addition to jettisoning any issue that will not encourage investments in the State as Government is determined to protect its integrity and achieve her objectives of providing basic amenities and infrastructural development to Abians.
He used the forum to congratulate the newly sworn in Council Chairmen on their success at the recent Local Government elections and encouraged them to embark on an aggressive revenue collection bearing in mind that much is expected of them in terms of improving the lots of people at the grassroots through provision of democracy dividends.
In their remarks, the Chairman, Abia State Economic Advancement Team, Chief Mark Atasie and the Acting Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Celestine Agbara disclosed that a memorandum of understanding has been reached between members of ALGON and the State Government on issues of revenue collection, harmonization and multiple taxation.
They said that the E-DataTicketing and Abia Pluc was introduced to check sharp practices and forestall unnecessary multiple taxation on the people and implored the Council Chairmen to support the Government achieve success.
The members of the State Executive Council, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor Sir Don Ubani, Local Government Chairmen, members of the State Internally Generated Revenue Council and other stakeholders in revenue generation in the State attended the meeting.
