Chairman, Taskforce on Internally Generated Revenue, Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Hon. John Osagie Inegbedion, has tackled pressing tax questions, assuring of Edo State government’s commitment to handle the menace of double taxation to encourage optimal business growth and efficient service delivery at the Youth House on August 10, 2023.
He took this stand at the International Youth Day seminar put together by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter to collaboratively join the EIRS at sensitizing youths about tax and the need to pay taxes to the government.
The seminar which was very much interactive enabled youths to have a face-to-face interaction with the tax chief who doubled as the representative of the government at the fora. They collectively channelled innate raw energies to seek answers to nagging questions during the robust and mentally stimulating question and answer session.
The EIRS Chief who presented a paper, “Taxation: A Civic Responsibility,” at the one day seminar put together by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, in collaboration with the EIRS at the Youth House, Akpakpava Road, Benin City, Edo State, stated, “As citizens of Edo State, I encourage us to collaborate more, get involved in the affairs of our collective developmental processes by paying our taxes as a way of executing our individual and collective responsibility.
“It is only when we do this, we can then appreciate the government for effectively utilizing taxpayers’ funds as evident in Edo State under the Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration and in the same vein hold government accountable for not fulfilling promises made.”
He encouraged participants to click on the “edogov website” to be brought up to speed on government expenditure based on collected taxes to see the budget performance, projects and contracts awarded. Nonetheless, he encouraged those seeking further clarification to get across to him.
Inegbedion promised to pass raised observations of participants drawn from Labour, trade unions, market organizations, faith based, youth organizations, undergraduates and even a body of cab drivers concerning their displeasure with some Local Government revenue collectors in the State.
It must be noted that participants at the seminar unanimously supported a raised motion for subsidized costs for use of government hospitals to ease the financial burden of the masses.
Curiously, participants showed willingness to pay tax but frowned at harassment received from tax collectors mostly at the local government level. They lamented about double taxation, seeking clarification on taxes, levies and stickers as well as government-approved means with which to identify fake collectors.
Highpoint of the occasion was the
presentation of a “Gold medal” and “Award plaque” to Hon. John Osagie Inegbedion by leaders of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, assisted by its state chairman, Comrade Moses Agwinede Joseph. The award was dedicated to EIRS and youths of Edo State.