The Anambra State government, through its Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), has commenced the mega Market traders’ enumeration and payment.
The operation tagged ‘Market Storm’ was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on IGR and Digital Transformation, Mr. Isaac Chimereze Okoro, represented the Chairman of AIRS, Mr. Richard Madiebo.
The mega enumeration, which started at the Onitsha Main Market, was conducted by over 100 AIRS staff, who had been trained for the operation.
A meeting between the government’s revenue officials and the market management executive led by Chief Innocent Ikechukwu Ezeoha, heralded the exercise.
Ezeoha said that the traders are willing to support the government in achieving its objectives, promising to ensure that traders in the market will comply with the new government’s tax and revenue reforms.
He further called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to extend his kindness to the market, which has been ravaged by flood, adding that half of the Zone 3 part of the market has been ravaged by flood, thereby displacing traders in that location.
The SSA to the Governor on IGR and Digital Transformation, Mr. Isaac Okoro thanked the traders and the market executive as they moved round the market to observe the exercise.
Okoro explained the benefit of the exercise to the traders and Ndi Anambra, stressing that the governor has given a directive on the mode of payment, which eliminates paying cash to anyone except in the bank.
While empathising with the traders and market executives after visiting the flood site, he also explained that the government has partnered with many agent banking institutions to realize payment options throughout the State and the market, thereby making it seamless and easy for people to make payment for their taxes and levies any day ,and at any location.
The Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Eloka Maduekwe, was also in attendance and explained the plans of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry towards the market, encouraging the traders to pay their taxes and other associated revenues.
Others who attended the Storm included Anambra Zonal Tax Authority, Mrs. Franca Ekpechi; the Head of Non-Tax AiRS, Mr. Onyeka Chukwudi; Head, Autonomous Transition, Mrs. Ann Nwagwu, and among others.
The Market Mega Storm continues this week at the same location.