Edo govt. generates revenue for even development-Elamah

The Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief Oseni Elamah said the comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s Administration in Edo State does not operate a kind of resource control government. Rather, Elamah said it is focused on generating revenue that would ensure even development across the state, premised on peoples’ participation in result-oriented policy.” Elamah made this known in Benin City when he played host to the State Tipper Drivers Association led by Micheal Ehios. Chief Elamah who noted that government has a responsibility to protect the lives and properties of its citizens, besides governance, said that the state government decided to stop the problem of ticketing by various unions in view of eliminating touts in the system. He said that the system operated in the past has negatively affected the people, urging the visitors to facilitate the process of obtaining the national consolidated emblem/sticker, an initiative of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) for motorists across the federation. “You are not expected to pay for the emblem, it is free,” stated the EIRS boss. Asserting that tax is different from levy, he said the EIRS is focused on collecting the personal income tax as stipulated under the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA). He used the occasion to sensitize the union on the need to register and obtain their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) card, and reiterated that the EIRS does not collect any road tax on the highway; rather it is at the various motor licensing offices across the state. According to Elamah, the revenue agency is committed to creating a tax friendly environment, and commended the union for bringing its members under one fold for easy assessment. He also commended the union for its support to the present government in the state. Spokesman for the union, Apostle David Aigbiremwen commended the EIRS boss for overhauling the revenue system and giving the corporate headquarters a befitting look. Aigbiremwen who stated that the Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole did not make the mistake of appointing Chief Elamah to oversee the affairs of the EIRS, said “some areas that have been forgotten by past governments you have discovered and the state internally generated revenue has been optimized. He assured that the tipper drivers union would continue to support the present administration in its quest to bringing development to the doorsteps of the people.