By Ugo John
The Chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Mr. Richard Madiebo, has taken a swipe at some unscrupulous elements who are bent on derailing the newly introduced digital payment process for revenue collection and remittance in the State.
Speaking exclusively with eyewitnessngr correspondent, Madiebo described the situation as unfortunate. He explained that those bent on frustrating the process are mostly the persons that lost out, who hitherto profited from the old and corrupt system, hence they are fighting back.
Madiebo said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, at the inception of his administration, had given ‘Agberos’ the marching order and instructed the security personnel to kick them out of the markets, parks and other places where they engaged in illegal revenue collection.
According to the revenue boss, before the new rates where arrived at, a window period of three months was given for extensive consultations between the government and the various unions represented by their leaders, adding that during the period, rates were not collected. The idea behind the introduction of the system, he further explained, is to ensure that sanity is restored to Anambra and allow Ndi Anambra carry out their businesses without fear of harassment or molestation.
Madiebo said in the new system, the amount they paid was reduced from 30 days to 25 days, and no amount is charged for electronic transmission of collections for those who use State government designated banks.
The Anambra State government equally approved the payment of 5% commission to the unions for remittance made, which is also to be paid electronically.
However, Madiebo is saddened that in spite of all the incentives put in place, it still did not go down well with some people.
In his view, any State that fails to embrace digital transmission of revenues is heading to the woods especially at this time of dwindling federal allocations to the states.
Anambra State is the center of commercial activities in the South East geopolitical zone and if Anambra State survives post-oil, then it will be to the efforts of all. It will not by good if the State suffers from the lack of federal allocation or delay in allocation. She state should be a stable and viable State and the only way to achieve that is to ensure that the IGR is able to take care of its recurrent expenditure.
He stated that the government will continue to engage with the unions and everybody is a stakeholder in Anambra State.
The present payment scheme was presented to the people by the governor after three months of engagement at a launch; questions were asked and they were all resolved. So what is happening now is very unfortunate but like I said earlier, we will continue to engage with the people. He called on the people not to take the laws into their hands; they should not try and frustrate a legitimate government process. This government has pledged to make Anambra State not only to survive but to also thrive in this present economic climate.