AKWA IBOM TAX SYSTEM DUE FOR REFORMS -Pastor Ekarika

 Internal Revenue Boss reveals By: Our Correspondent Going by the words of the Permanent Secretary/ Ag. Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Pastor Nicholas Ekarika, then Akwa Ibom State is in for a comprehensive overhaul of its tax system, in particular, and it's entire revenue administration frameworks. 

 

Then the era of multiple taxes and estimated billing in the formal/informal sectors would have been only in history, this much DevelopmentDIARY can exclusively report. 

 Pastor Ekarika spoke yesterday (Wednesday) in his office, along with his Top Management, when he played host to Members of the Akwa Ibom State Tax Justice and Governance Platform who were on advocacy visit to the internal revenue service headquarters. According to the Internal Revenue Boss, "when I came into office, I looked at what we have, and with the cooperation of our staff, and I must use this medium to acknowledge and appreciate our Governor, His Excellency, Mr. UDOM Emmanuel for affording us the opportunity and support to give Akwa Ibom people a good tax system through his executive bill which granted us autonomy and legal backing to completely reform the system with a promise to address the issues you have enunciated in your address". 

 

Continuing, he said, "We are ready to deal squarely with issues of multiple taxation in the formal and informal sectors of the economy, and have recently, signed Memorandum of Understanding with credible institutions to kick-start our process of reforms. 

We have contacted the Federal Inland Revenue Service and have been linked to other platforms that shall assist to reform our tax system and policies". While commending the members of the State Tax Justice Platform, Pastor Ekarika noted that, "I want to assure you that our tax Justice platform is the best, we are going to work together to give Akwa Ibom people a tax system they shall be Proud of. We are going to engage you for critical mass communication and social sensitization". 

Speaking earlier, Dr. Harry Udoh, leader of the delegation and CEO of Support, Training and Enterprise Project (STEP), a foremost civil society organization in the country had highlighted that the Tax Justice and Governance Platform is a network of civil society organizations working together to ensure the emergence of a responsible and transparent tax system in the polity. 

 

He added that the Platform is an offshoot of the Capacity for Research and Advocacy for Fair Taxation (CRAFT) program put together by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) and OXFAM NOVIB with support from the Netherlands Government. According to the renowned civil society advocate, "under this project, we have identified various instances of multiple taxation, estimated billings and other obnoxious practices in the tax sector of Akwa Ibom State, especially in the informal Sector". 

The group pleaded with the Service to clean up the tax system and make more openness, transparency and accountability it's watchword. Highlight of the visit was the formal presentation of the group's Tax System Survey Report of Akwa Ibom State to the State Government through the Internal Revenue Service. 

Others on the Tax Justice Platform delegation included Rev. Anietie Effiong of Global Relief and Empowerment Initiative, Mr. Imo Udo of Community Partners for Development, Mrs. Idorenyin Udoh of STEP and Comrade Uduak Nseabasi of PolicyAlert who represented the State Artisans and Tradespeople Association