Stakeholders Reject Autonomy Clause In Revenue Board Bill

Stakeholders at a public hearing on the bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue law has criticised the “autonomy” clause which the proposed law intends to grant the board.

Speaking at the forum, Tuesday a social commentator, Mr Nabs Sara Igbe, said the law should provide that the Board reports to the State Commissioner for Finance or Special Adviser  to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to ensure checks and balances.

SaraIgbe hinted that the Governor must be briefed regularly on the internal revenue  profile of the state and only the commissioner or the  SA can do that either at the  State executive council level or privately.

Mr. Sara Igbe who was a one time  Special Adviser to Governor Peter Odili on Revenue Matters said  total autonomy to the Board would be counter productive  in checking leakages in the system.

He suggested a single tenure of five years for board members who must be persons of proven integrity, adding that education and enlightenment of the people must be given priority attention.

Also speaking Director in the Ministry of Finance Mr. Alawari Ndu, who represented the commissioner for Finance, said the new law seeks to give the board autonomy to meet international best practices as it would aid effectiveness and efficiency.

Mr. Ndu disclosed  that the proposed law was in tune with personal income tax because it would strengthen the board to mobilise revenue for the state government.

On his part, the state chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) Mr Chika Onuegbu, said the composition of the Board failed to recognise the workers who are greatly affected by the payment of taxes.

Earlier, the Chairman House Committee on Finance, Hon. John Josiah OIu, said the bill sought to restructure the Board of Internal Revenue for more productivity, noting that if the fundamental of the law were correct the effort would be worth while.

Hon. Olu thanked the participants for their valuable contributions which would help the lawmakers arrive at an acceptable law for the state.

He assured that as  a committee, they would aggregate  all inputs in their report and present  same to the House for final deliberation.

The Clerk of the Asembly, Sir Emmanuel Ogele, said the Assembly regard Public Hearing as  a veritable  instrument  for the public to contribute to lawmaking reiterating  that all the  views expressed would be considered before the passage of the bill.