The Executive Chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) Chief Oseni Elamah has said that the granting of autonomous status to the EIRS agency marks a unique turning point in the history of revenue reforms in the state.
Chief Elamah Made the remark at a one-day staff pre transition retreat held in Benin City.
Chief Elamah who described the event as one of the fundamental pillars of reforms in the agency, and of benefit to the people, pointed out that the agency was moving from a strata of Board of Internal Revenue to a strata of reforms and achievements in a democratic system which guarantees the rule of law.
He observed that before now, the issue of revenue collection in the state was bedeviled with various malpractices and ticketing such that certain individuals allocated to themselves geographical jurisdiction to harass, intimidate prospective taxpayers.
This, he said prompted the enactment of the Edo State Revenue Administration Law which guarantees building internal capacity, training and retraining of staffers with the requisite experience, to drive home quality service delivery, through the right processes and procedures in line with the provision of the law.
He maintained that the reforms currently witnessed in the revenue agency would not have been possible but for the political leadership, foresight and honesty of the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The Okaivbiore of Benin Kingdom, who viewed integrity as one of the core values of the revenue agency which he said must be internalized, asserted that leadership was not about the position one acquire alone but the value brought to bear in the course of discharging leadership duties.
He specifically acknowledged the staff’s commitment, determination and diligence to duty, declaring that autonomy would not make significant impact without them.
He therefore challenged the staff to be more committed in view of optimizing the revenue generation for the state to enable it provide more infrastructural development.
The resource persons at the occasion, former Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Executive Director, EIRS, Emmanuel Usoh and Human Right Crusader, Austin Osakue described the event as a pointer towards ensuring viable and organized tax system in the state.
The resource persons who spoke on the topics: Managing Change in a Dynamic Environment; Organizing the Individual for Self Actualization and the Role of the Worker in Social Development viewed taxation as the most prominent revenue available to government if it must fulfill its obligations to the people.
