The Anambra State Government has directed the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) to intensify its revenue generation drive while ensuring that businesses are not overburdened with taxes.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, gave the charge when the Corporate Communications Unit of AIRS, led by Lynda Chioma Okoye, alongside Umeh Onyinye Charity, Chinwe Enemchukwu and Paschal Blaise Eme, paid him a courtesy visit to strengthen the existing partnership between the agency and the ministry.
Dr. Mefor described AIRS as a critical component of the state’s economic development, noting that the revenue agency has a significant role to play in supporting Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s ambitious infrastructure and social development programmes.
He listed some of the administration’s ongoing and proposed projects to include Awka 2.0, Ekwulobia Flyover City, Airport City, New Niger City, aimed at decongesting Onitsha, Awka City Park, Marriott Hotel, over 900 kilometres of roads, with about 750 kilometres already tarred, and the regeneration of Onitsha Main Market, scheduled for completion in December.
The Commissioner also highlighted the government’s commitment to sustaining free education and free antenatal and delivery services.
He, however, expressed concern that Anambra’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) remained among the lowest in the South-East, despite the state’s significant economic potential, noting that its revenue was almost half that of Enugu State.
He attributed the situation to inadequate tax education, weak enforcement of cashless revenue collection, resulting in leakages, and the absence of a comprehensive database of businesses and taxable entities across the state.
Mefor insisted that every lock-up shop must be captured in the state’s revenue database and issued a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
“Every lock-up shop must be taxed and must have a Tax Identification Number,” he declared.
He specifically urged AIRS to intensify the enumeration of traders and businesses in major commercial centres, including Onitsha Main Market, Ochanja, Ose, Nnewi and Nkpor, as well as other markets across the state.
He further advised the agency to engage ad hoc personnel where necessary to ensure comprehensive coverage and effective data collection.
Mefor maintained that residents would be more willing to fulfil their tax obligations when they could see tangible evidence of how public revenue was being utilised.
In this regard, he cited the Soludo administration’s open government policy, including the online publication of government contracts, 48-hour grievance-resolution dashboards and a budget structure allocating 79 per cent to capital expenditure and 21 per cent to recurrent expenditure.
He pledged to resubmit a proposal for a massive statewide tax enlightenment campaign, describing tax payment as the foremost civic responsibility of citizens.
The commissioner stressed that with only three effective years remaining in the administration’s tenure, AIRS must embrace automation, eliminate revenue leakages and intensify public enlightenment to enable the government execute its development programmes without resorting to borrowing.
Earlier, Okoye explained that the visit was aimed at consolidating the cordial relationship established during the commissioner’s previous visit to AIRS and strengthening collaboration between the two institutions.
She disclosed that the team was also seeking to establish a joint media team to sustain communication and follow up on areas of mutual interest.
Okoye added that the AIRS Chairman remained committed to the partnership, despite his demanding schedule.
