Stakeholders Hail Soludo’s Digitisation of Revenue Collection in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra state government’s decision to digitize revenue collection in the state has been commended by stakeholders at a workshop on tax for service.

They said the measure would help greatly in reducing the rate at which funds meant for government are being diverted into private pockets.

The participants, who are drawn from 21 major markets, relevant government ministries, departments and agencies, (MDAs), the civil society, disability community and the media, agreed to the progressive trends in revenue generation in the state but argued that the state has the potential to perform better than it is currently doing if the system if fully digitized to allow zero cash collection.

The workshop was organized by Social and Integral Development Centre, (SIDEC), host of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP), in collaboration with the Civil Society legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) with funding support from Oxfam Nigeria.

In an address of welcome, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, said, “This two-day workshop is critical and crucial to our task of servicing the innovative initiative in Anambra State.

The innovative campaign aims at enhancing tax compliance particularly within the informal sector. Anambra States’ economic sector is 70% informal as we have a good number of our brothers and sisters in the informal setting.

“We recognize that tax compliance is not just a civic obligation, but also a vital source of revenue for the government to deliver essential public services to its citizens.

Over the next two days, we will engage in presentations to discuss issues, strategies, innovations that revolve around key topics such as business advisory for traders, revenue mobilization, budget process, tax policies, as well as leadership styles, and strategies.

“At the end of the day, we want to see Anambra achieving a monthly IGR of at least five billion naira. We want to see Anambra where people pay their taxes voluntarily because services are being provided by the government. Together, we will achieve more. We will see Anambra State that is business friendly, Anambra that is more secure for investors to come in, invest and do their businesses,” she concluded.

In a remark, the Chairman, Anambra Internal Revenue Service, (AiRS), Dr Greg Ezeilo, represented by the Head, Backduty Audit, Mr Francis Ezenwa, noted that the service has done more than enforcing the tax law with one of its interventions targeted at getting school children to understand the importance of tax payment.

“AiRS has engaged several stakeholders and it is yielding good results. But, beyond that, we have taken the sensitization to school children to entrench tax compliance culture in them so that when they become eligible, it will not be difficult for them to pay their taxes.

“The state is also automating the system through digitization. The governor has given the directive that any money that we cannot get through automation should be allowed to go. That tells you how serious we are with the no cash payment policy.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Market, Chief Evaristus Uba, represented by the Director Market, Francis Iloduba, also appreciated the contribution of SIDEC to the IGR profile of the state, adding that his door remains open for more meaningful partnership. “We are fully in support of this programme and we anticipate that after it is over, we will be able to exceed our target in terms of monthly revenue generation”.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Chinyere Nwabachili, Prof. Uche Nwogwugwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, who lauded organizers of the workshop for complementing government’s efforts towards increased IGR.

Chairman, Onitsha Main Market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, and Pastor Peter Ezenwafor, of the New Motor Spareparts Market Nnewi, appreciated SIDEC for helping them to better understand the essence of taxes, levies and fees to the development of the state, while they called for closer attention by the government to outstanding needs of their markets.

During the brainstorming session, participants called for greater accountability, transparency in the utilization of all revenue generated by government, while they equally stressed the need for tax justice to encourage more people to pay.

They called for sustained public awareness and sensitization campaign to increase people’s understanding of the need to pay their taxes as and when due.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mr Joachin Achor, presented paper on Tax and revenue mobilization in Anambra State, while Mrs Chinyere Nwabachili, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning’s paper focused on the state Budget Process and how the market leaders can achieve their requests as contained in their charters of demands.

Dr Chika Ofomata, a Tax Consultant, presented the outcomes and recommendations of the study carried out in 21 markets from the beginning of the Tax for Service Project, which among others stressed the need to fully digitize the revenue collection system in the state to reduce diversion and improve the IGR profile of the state.