Enugu State Set To Introduce Community Tax, Aims At Increasing Revenue From N4.5bn to N30bn
The Executive Chairman, Enugu State Board of Internal Revenue, BIR,
Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, has said that the Board has digitalized its mode of revenue collection to raise its’ internally generated revenue from 4.5 billion naira to 30 billion naira GDP.
Nnamani, who made this known on Tuesday during a Press Conference in his office, said that for this to be achieved, all channels must be explored.
He declared, ” No economy can grow when taxes are evaded or not paid. When government don’t enforce tax compliance there would be no money for development.
“In our drive, we are going into areas where hitherto government have been losing money and find a way of blocking the loopholes.
“Now what we are saying is that tax will be consolidated using one channel. The Keke operator pays for one ticket which would be consolidated and is administered through one channel. We are also doing same to the market unions.
“Very soon, nobody will access any public services including schools when they don’t have a tax clearance certificate. This is how it is done in advance countries of the world.
“So we are chatting a course for tomorrows experimental growth in revenue. A hotel should collect 5% for everyone that lodges while the media should collect 10% for every adverts and remit same to government. Nnamani said.
While speaking on community taxing, the Chairman said that each community would be required to pay a certain percentage of tax to government and the government will also be required to complement the efforts by providing roads, hospitals, schools, and other essential services.
According to him, the board will develop a system that will assess the amount each community would have to pay as well as the land use charges both in rural and urban areas.
He said, “To achieve this, we have interfaced with all the union leaders. We want people to feel the impact as you can generate your tax clearance certificate at any Cyber cafe.
“We want to bring the consciousness of paying tax consolidated model in Enugu state.
“We are going to use the police, DRS, and other operatives as we are not going to relent as the E-Ticketing model will create jobs with 500 enforcers going to be employed in the first instance”, he further informed.
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