In line with its corporate governance reform, the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has held its 2016 Executive Management Team Strategic Retreat with a resolve to commence the automation process and procedures of internally generated revenue (IGR) reforms in the state.
Speaking at a three-day retreat organized for top management staff of the revenue agency, held between 28 and 30 December, 2016, the Executive Chairman of EIRS, Chief (Sir) OseniElamah said “the strategic retreat afforded the EIRS the opportunity to review its performance for 2016 and to map out strategies that will enable the agency not only to become more efficient in delivering quality services to its stakeholders, but also to optimize the internally generated revenue (IGR) for Edo State” which according to him, will be needed to support the various programmes and projects of the new administration under Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Underscoring the importance of the retreat which Elamah said is brainstorming and held annually, is also very critical to the survival of the EIRS and the IGR reforms especially at the take-off of the present administration.
He expressed confidence that IGR, if given its rightful place and made pivotal, as successfully recorded in the last administration, the present administration of Godwin Obaseki would be able to come out of economic recession resulting from the declining crude oil prices.
Chief Elamah posited that with the low production and sale of crude oil in the international market, it has become imperative for the full implementation and automation of the IGR reforms so that it could be a durable and sustainable revenue for government to realize its objectives.
The revenue boss said that with the strategic retreat, the EIRS is poised more than ever to render value added services so as to earn the confidence and trust of taxpayers.
High point of the retreat were presentations on ways of raising the state’s internally generated revenue and its implementation strategies from departments and key ministries.