Obi Hails Tax for Service Project in Anambra, Pledges Partnership with NGOs

By Praise Chinecherem

Chairman, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state, Mrs Amaka Obi has pledged cordial working relationship with any Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, with genuine interest and capacity to contribute to the growth and development of the local government.

Obi gave the pledge while hosting the Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP), led by Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre, (SIDEC), to inform her about the Tax for Service project being implement in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) and funded by Oxfam Nigeria.

“The local government is open to work with all groups with capacity to contribute to our resolve to give Idemili South good governance and speedy development.

“My resolve to develop the local government is non-negotiable and I am ready to welcome any individual or group with the capacity to help me achieve my dream,” he noted.

Earlier, Deputy Chairman, Mr Ifeanyi Anakuba appreciated the work of SIDEC, host of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, which he noted, is a boost to efforts by government to increase its IGR. “Your message and advocacy is great. It’s interesting that you have gone to markets to sensitize traders about taxes and levies.

“I understand that now that the IGR is on progressive trend, you want to hold the government agencies accountable to ensure improved service delivery which will further motivate the people to pay their taxes. I assure you that the mayor of Idemili is doing a whole lot to ensure service delivery to taxpayers.

“Sooner or later, we will have a robust website to serve as an interface between the government and the people of Idemili. Through it, we will welcome more of people’s needs, complaints, inquiries. We are happy with your advocacy. Keep the good job up,”she said.

Earlier, Executive Director, SIDEC, Ugochi Ehiahuruike remarked that the Tax for Service project had contributed hugely to improved revenue collection.

“This is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening tax compliance by fostering a direct link between taxation and service delivery. We will be engaging stakeholders like you towards ensuring that tax revenues translate into tangible community and markets benefits.

“We are also here to strengthen government commitment to improved tax transparency, accountability and service delivery, and share research finding while also submitting the needs of the major markets, especially those in your LGA.

“We also seek to foster collaboration between local government authorities and civil society organizations for sustainable development.

“We must strengthen tax transparency to increase public trust and voluntary compliance. We acknowledge testimonies of revenue so far collected being judiciously utilized by the present administration.

“This must be improved upon. Relevant MDAs and Local governments must lead by example because effective tax-for-service implementation starts at the grassroots.

Ehiahuruike added, “At the end of this visit, we anticipate policy commitments from commissioners and LG chairmen on tax transparency and service delivery, stronger collaboration between government and CSOs on tax monitoring and reporting, as well as improved tax policy recommendations based on community feedback and public awareness campaigns supported by government offices on the benefits of taxation”.