Enugu state Board of Internal Revenue, BIR says it has digitalized its’ mode of revenue collection in the state to raise its’ internally generated revenue from 4.5 billion naira to 30 billion naira GDP.
READ ALSO: Enugu State Releases N274m To Sustain IFAD-VCDP Programme
Executive Chairman of the Board, Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani made this known on Tuesday while addressing a press conference in his office.
He said that for this to be achieved, all channels must be explored to eradicate multiple taxation.
According to him, ” No economy can grow when taxes are evaded or not paid. When government don’t enforce tax compliance there would be no money for development.
“In our drive, we are going into areas where hitherto government have been loosing money and find a way of blocking the loopholes.
“Now what we are saying is that tax will be consolidated using one channel. The Keke operator pays for one ticket which would be consolidated and is administered through one channel. We are also doing same to the market unions.
“Very soon, nobody will access any public services including schools when they don’t have a tax clearance certificate. This is how it is done in advance countries of the world.
“So we are chatting a course for tomorrows experimental growth in revenue. A hotel should collect 5% for everyone that lodges while the media should collect 10% for every adverts and remit same to government. Nnamani said.
On community taxing, the Chairman said that each community would be required to pay a certain percentage of tax to government and the government will also be required to complement the efforts by providing roads, hospitals, schools, and other essential services.
The board is going to develop a system that will access the amount each community and every house in Enugu would have to pay the land use charges both in rural and urban areas.
“To achieve this, we have interfaced with all the union leaders. We want people to feel the impact as you can generate your tax clearance certificate at any Cyber cafe.
“We want to bring the consciousness of paying tax consolidated model in Enugu state.
“We are going to use the police, Direct Response Squad, DRS and other operatives. We are not going to relent as the E-Ticketing model will create jobs with 500 enforcers going to be employed in the first instance“. Nnamani noted.
