The Executive Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS), Mrs Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko has stated that the service had not sent any personnel to either tax churches or close down any faith-based institution in the state.
The Chairman said this during the service’s stakeholders meeting at Vinentel Hotel, Port Harcourt.
Obele-Oshoko noted that such operations are illegal and should be reported to the service for punishment of perpetrators, adding that by law, Churches are not taxable except when they engage in commercial activities that yield profit.
She, however, noted that only church workers are expected to pay personal income tax.
The RIRS boss called on the citizens of the state to see tax payment as their civic responsibilities, stating that the service has created awareness in this direction, as taxes help the government to execute projects that will better the lives of its citizens”.
Speaking on the topic “Enhancing Tax Compliance Through Effective collaboration”, the Permanent Secretary SURE-P programme in the state, Dr. George Nweke, stated the need for collaboration between the government, the tax payers and tax practitioners.
Nweke noted the need for the state to set up dedicated courts to handle tax matters to avoid delay in tax litigation, adding that it would also enhance the punishment of tax defaulters.
“There is need for all stakeholders to identify their roles in strategising towards enhancing and collaborating to pay tax in order to have good service”.
In his contribution, the Chairman of ICAN, Rivers State, Mr. Erasmus Chukwunda, called on the service to reach out for highly networked private individuals for taxes, stating that from the look of things, only civil servants pay taxes in the state.
He also warned companies against using unprofessional accounting consultants. Chukunda commended the states revenue service for what he called improved services.

L-R: Managing Director, Yuguda Vocational Training Centre (YVTC), Bauchi, Alhaji Uba Boris, representative of Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Tasiu and Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Agency for Youth and Women Rehabilitation and Development, Prof. Musa Maisamari, during a solidarity visit by trainees and officials of the centre to Government House, Bauchi last Friday.

Kingsley Nna