An efficient system as well as viable institutions like internal revenue agencies have been described as veritable catalyst towards advancing development in the developing world.
The Executive chairman of Edo State Internal Revenue Service, (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah made the assertion when he played host to officers of the National Defence College, Course 24 in Benin City.
Chief Elamah explained that taxation is the primary tool of government in raising revenue for the overall development of all sectors of the economy, saying the need to single out the tax system amongst other institutions has become imperative, judging by its potential as a catalyst for development, especially during the present global economic/fiscal realities.
Delivering his paper on the topic: Internally Generated Revenue as Catalyst for Development in the State. Challenges and Prospects in Edo State, the EIRS boss pointed out that prior to Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration in the state, the economy of the state was at low ebb.
He said that worried by the development, the state government embarked on an aggressive reformation of the tax system with the signing into law of the Edo State Revenue Administration Law 2012, which brought about the change in name from Edo State Board of Internal Revenue to Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) for efficient service delivery.
The reforms, according to the revenue boss, culminated in the state generating an average of N1.6 billion monthly compared to the N250 million monthly in the past.
He noted that the growth in the IGR resulted in massive infrastructural development in the state which he said ranges from rehabilitations, reconstructions and constructions of schools, hospital, roads and other basic amenities needed to uplift the living standard of the people. He cited lack of uniformity/complexity in the tax system, inadequate information, and lack of cooperation from taxpayers amongst other factors as the challenges militating against optimal generation of revenue. Chief Elamah however highlighted aggressive enforcement of the existing tax laws, awareness/enlightenment campaigns, introduction of new tax laws, leveraging on technology in the tax system amongst others as prospects of IGR in the state.
Leader of the visitors, Brigadier General Adekola Bakare had said they were on a study tour to the state in view of under studying the IGR as a catalyst towards, development, its challenges and prospects.
Brig. Gen. Bakare described the National Defence College (NDC) as the highest Army Training School established in 1992 with the purpose of training Senior Nigerian Army Officers and other sister countries.
Elamah canvases efficient system, viable institutions
