RSG Tasks Board On IGR

Rivers State Government has charged the State Board of Internal Revenue to improve the finances of the state through internal sources.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, stated this Thursday in Port Harcourt, at a one-day stakeholders’ forum with the theme: Tax Talk: Stakeholders roles and Expectation”.
Dr Peterside, explained that taxes are sources of funds which facilitates the provision of public infrastructure, and lauded the chairman of the board for the improvement in revenue generation in the state.
He said the state government has introduced a law that would make the Board autonomous, responsible and accountable as well as harmonised tax payments with the elimination of multiple taxation.
The Finance Commissioner hinted that when Governor Amaechi assumed office, he came up with the vision of massive infrastructural development, and stressed the need to improve on internally generated revenue to achieve the goal.
According to him, “We are not coming to break your doors to collect tax but we want you to pay tax because you need to see reason to pay as stakeholders.
Also speaking, the chairman, House of Assembly committee on Finance, Hon. Josiah John Olu, said the essence of the forum was to interact with tax payers, noting that the numerous projects of the state government require that all resources accruable to the state were harnessed.
Hon Olu, said the Assembly has passed laws that would assist the Board collect taxes with ease while tax payers would be treated with respect.
The Executive chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue, Onene Obelle Osila Oshoko, said his office recognizes the existence of communication gap between the tax stakeholders in the State, adding that the forum was meant to bridge it.
The Board’s chairman said the interactive forum would help to build workable partnerships in the state tax administration, noting that there is need for tax payers to know the benefits of paying tax.
Responding to questions at the interactive session, Mrs Osila Oshoko, advised tax payers to pay to the banks and avoid the antics of touts.
In his paper, chairman, charted Institute of Taxation, Mr Clement Akanibo, said default from paying taxes was a criminal offence, and advised the tax authority to simplify the process of assessment of tax payers.