Abia partners Access Bank to expand Tax Net, achieve N120 billion IGR target for 2025.
From Gordi Udeajah – Umuahia
Abia state government has announced its engagement of Access Bank partnership towards expanding its Tax net in its bid to actualize its targeted N120 billion internally generated revenue in 2025.
This was announced to journalists yesterday by the state Information Commissioner Prince Okey Kanu while introducing the Access Bank seven-member Team at government house Umuahia in the presence of the Chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue ( BIR ) professor Udochukwu Ogbonna, Finance Commissioner Mr Uwaoma Ukandu , state governor’s Special Advisers on IGR and Media/Publicity Mr Emmanuel Okpechi and Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma respectively.
He said that Under the partnership, all taxable persons, businesses, properties among others are to be enumerated and stored in a Data Bank for reference as the need arises
Commissioner Kanu who said that for the N120 billion IGR target for 2025 to be actualized, all viable revenue streams would be unlocked, consequently tasked the taxable citizenry on supporting governor Alex Otti’s administration by paying their taxes when due
He added that the comprehensive data capture of houses and businesses in the state would be integrated with the Abia State Social Identification Number ( ABSSIN ) and thus position taxable residents towards accessing government social services, assist in the designing of optimal economic policies, including securing the state against criminal activities.
Chairman of the State BIR Professor Ogbonna emphasized that an accurate database of houses, vehicles, and business outlets would help increase Tax revenue for the state and sustain doing the needfuls that would protect and secure the residents.
Also speaking, the state governor’s Special Adviser in IGR, Mr Okpechi while targeting that all houses in the state would be enumerated during the exercise, urged the residents cooperate saying ” there should be no need to fear the policy that was not intended to to impose a heavy tax burden but ensure that appropriate Taxes are paid and visibly managed for better economic planning and welfare of Abians”.
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