The Government of Anambra State through the state Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, has commenced the mega Market trader’s enumeration and payment.
The operation which is tagged ‘Market Storm’, was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, and Digital Transformation, Mr. Isaac Chimereze Okoro who represented the Chairman of the Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo.
The mega enumeration which started with Onitsha Main Market was conducted by over 100 AIRS staff who had been trained for the operation.
A crucial meeting between the state government 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 state government in achieving its objectives and promised to ensure that traders in the market comply with the new government tax and revenue reforms.
He further called on the state Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to extend his kindness to the market which has been ravaged by the current flood, adding that half of the Zone 3 part of the market has been claimed by flood thereby displacing traders in that location.
The SSA to the Governor on IGR and Digital Transformation, Mr Isaac Okorie thanked the traders and the market executive as they moved around the market to observe the exercise.
He explained to the traders the benefits of the exercise stressing that the Governor has given a directive about the mode of payment that 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 state has partnered with many agent banking institutions to realise 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 revenue.
Others who attended the storm include Anambra Zonal Tax Authority and Mrs. Franca Ekpechi.
The Head of Non-Tax AIRS, Mr. Onyeka Chukwudi, the Head, of Autonomous Transition, Mrs Ann Nwagwu, and among others.
Dominica Nwabufo
