GOV. David Umahi of Ebonyi, has granted a three months grace to the newly inaugurated State Board of Internal Revenue (EBIR) to be financially independent.

Umahi made the declaration when he inaugurated the board with its management on Monday, saying that all efforts must be made to enhance the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The governor warned that if the board failed to be financially independent after the grace period, the government would cease discussions with it unless on contract basis.

“’We are at the threshold of generating agreed amount of money as IGR and after the three months, we will not use government money to pay your salaries and allowances among other expenditures.

“You should therefore audit the system, enhance the IGR to the agreed amount and earn five per cent of the revenue to run the board, revenue management, legal and appeal teams.

“’You should make projections to the State Executive Council (EXCO) if the five per cent is not enough and tell us the amount that will be enough as your percentage.

“This is not a favour or political appointment but a selection of intellectuals to assist us in solving the nagging problem of revenue collection,” he said.

He lamented that Ebonyi had failed in revenue generation, saying, for instance, that over 100 trucks of lead is illegally carted away from the state on daily basis.

“’You will be allowed to run the board independently and free to dissolve and set up new committees to halt such illegal acts.

“You will also act as our investment promoters and be allowed to organise the first ‘talk shop’ for our people to know that business is more profitable than politics and appointments,” he said.

Umahi said that he reposed great confidence in the board’s ability to deliver, noting that its chairman was the first Managing Director of Express Bank presently Heritage Bank.

“We decided to let our own people do the job and collect the percentage instead of allowing outsiders do so,” he said.

Chief Mike Chukwu, Chairman of the Board, thanked the governor for appointing them to serve and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them.

“The governor has briefed us on his visions to rapidly enhance the state’s IGR and create empowerment opportunities for the people to prevent revenue pressures,” he said.

Mr Cletus Ofoke, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said that the appointees were individuals of proven character and had been screened and cleared by the State House of Assembly. (NAN)

– Apr. 16, 2019 @ 13:45 GMT |