By Cajetan Mmuta
Chairman of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Dr. David Nzekwu has disclosed that the agency targets to shore up its internally generated revenue to the tune of about a 50billion for the 2022 fiscal year.
He disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Awka the state capital.
Nzekwu expressed optimism that the agency would achieve the year’s IGR target as the state has the capacity to generate more than N120 billion yearly if the right business environment is created to enable taxpayers and institutions to meet required obligations to the state government.
He explained that before the administration of Governor Willie Obiano came to power, the state was generating about N8.7 billion annually.
Nzekwu pointed out that statistic by the National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS) shows that the state now records over N28 billion yearly.
According to him, what was needed for increased internal revenue generation was for the public to put on the right attitude by seeing tax payment as a civic duty for the overall development and growth of the state.
He stated that the task force of the agency had sealed eight firms operating across the state for tax default, adding that more companies would come under the sled hammer in a few days and weeks for violation of the government’s expectations.
We have recorded progress on Federal roads’ construction in Kano – Fashola
On the allegation of issuing new contracts for revenue windows less than two months to the end of the eight years tenure in office of Governor Obiano led government, he said there was nothing wrong with that.
He said, “Our responsibility is to administer the Anambra State Revenue Administration Law and that is of essence to us because through that we raise revenue. Today, we even concluded the bidding process of some flying revenue windows that we advertised for bidding, and the entire process was done transparently”.
Nzekwu said that the organization was more concerned with making sure that more revenue enters the state coffers as that would enhance the development of the state and improve the people’s lives.
