By Ogochukwu Isioma in Benin City
The Edo State Government, on Tuesday, announced the constitution of the state Revenue Monitoring Team, a key component of revenue enforcement in the state.
The Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu disclosed this at the monthly Revenue Review Meeting with the Heads of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state, which he presided over at the Government House, Benin City.
He said the revenue monitoring team was set up to eliminate any form of compromise in the revenue collection system, while calling for a sustained synergy between the revenue collectors and the enforcers.
The Deputy Governor commended the Local Government heads for the great improvement recorded in the state’s revenue generation in recent time.
Shaibu, who noted that though the state was yet to reach her set target, praised the Heads who he recently publicly criticized over the poor revenue generation recorded in the past month.
The deputy governor said there was no plan to increase tax in the state, adding, “as a sensible government, we don’t have any intention to increase taxes, but the rates we have agreed on should be collected and remitted to government coffers.”
Shaibu explained that revenues were needed for the present administration to fulfil its electioneering promises including the provision of basic amenities such as good roads, good health care, portable water, electricity, schools, for the people.
He revealed that the state government recently arrested individuals who were engaged in illegal printing of revenue tickets, vowing that the state government would prosecute the suspects.
While commending the local government heads for the various roles they played, Shaibu noted that their arrests was in a bid to ensure transparency and deal with miscreants who have been using the government’s name to extort people.
He said the state government has also agreed to put in place a reward system for improvement which will serve as motivation for others and will be done in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Local Governments Employers (NULGE).
