Assembly Screens RSIRS Board Members

Legislative activities started at the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly last Monday with the appearance of the Honourable Commissioner of Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda.
Hon. Chinda appeared before the House to explain to the lawmaker how to use the N4 billion agricultural loan approved by the Assembly to develop agro industrial villages.
Chinda in his explanations noted that the loan would enhance small scale farming and to provide agricultural equipment to farmers in Rivers State.
The Commissioner said 70 per cent of the loan would be spent on small scale farming in the state while the remaining amount would be used to develop other agricultural projects in the state.
The following day, being Tuesday, the Honourable members screened nominees of the board of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service led by Mrs Onene Osita Oshiko-Obele.
After the screening exercise which lasted hours, the Honourable members however did not confirm the nominees due to lack of proper documentation of their credentials and non proof of payment of taxes.
The House leader, Hon Chidi Llody, representing Emohua Local Government Area, had observed that the nominee for the board Chairman, Mrs Onene Osita Oshiko Obele and other members, Christian Ogbowo, Micheal Ejiowhor, Iyalla Steward and Alali Halliday undermined the House by improperly documenting their resume which according to him, was an act of disrespect to the House.
Hon Legborsi Nwidadah, representing Khana 1, urged the House not to confirm the nominees pending when they would present proof of tax payment, explaining that as tax collectors, they ought to show good examples.
During the week in review, the House Committee on Finance also undertook an oversight function. The Committee headed by Hon Josiah John Olu, representing Eleme Local Government Area, visited the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service and reiterated the determination of the Assembly to review some of the obsolete revenue laws to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
Hon Olu who assured that the legislators were also making move to end multiple taxation in the state before the end of this year legislative calendar, said the House would harmonise all the laws and gazette them with a view to monitoring the revenue inflow in the state.
The lawmaker reminded the Internal Revenue Service that the Assembly recently passed a bill which granted the Service Autonomy to generate funds for the development of the state.
The Committee was however, not happy with the state of infrastructure at some of the tax offices in the state, and therefore charged the management to create an enabling environment for workers.
The committee, during the visit, inspected Diobu tax office at Emenike/Okija, Obio Tax office at Rumubiakani, newly established Aba Road Tax office at Rumuomasi, Port Harcourt Tax office at the State Secretariat and the Main Office at William Jumbo Street.
The House committee members include the Chairman, Hon Josiah John Olu, Hon Gift Wokocha, Hon Ben Horsfall, Hon Felecia Tena, Hon Okechukwu Akara, Hon Ibiso Nwuche and Dr Innocent Barikor.
Meanwhile, the House is expected to resume sitting today the complete screening of the Board of Internal Revenue Service as well as the screening of nominees of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) board.