…Commends AiRS for improved internally generated revenue
Members of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, (TJ&GP) have extolled the relentless efforts of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, (AiRS), which has resulted in progressive growth in its internally generated revenue, (IGR).
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that the group, consist of civil society advocates, media practitioners, traders and artisans, made the commendation during an advocacy visit to the Chairman, Anambra Internal Revenue Service, (AiRS), Dr Greg Ezeilo, under its Tax for Service Project, implemented in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, (CISLAC) and funded by Oxfam Nigeria.
Led by the Executive Secretary, Social and Integral Development Centre, (SIDEC), Ugochi Ehiahuruike, the group noted that the state current administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has justified those collections with on-going development strides.
Ehiahuruike however called for greater attention to markets where a substantial portion of government revenue comes from on critical needs of the markets to inspire voluntary compliance.
“This visit is to among other things present the findings of a research we carried out across 21 major markets aimed at ascertaining their needs for possible governmental interventions”.
“We appreciate the giant strides of the state government and the efforts to secure the state. The Governor is working so hard to ensure that he protects the lives of his people. That’s also a primary mandate. But our markets also need attention”.
According to her, Tax for Service project is designed to lend a boost to the revenue drive of Anambra State.
“We are currently hosting a radio program on ABS and Authority FM to educate the masses and we are receiving lots of calls showing that the people are interested. These are the things that we are doing to complement what AiRS is already doing”.
“When we started this campaign, monthly revenue generation was around 2.8 to 3.3 billion naira. It is now revolving around 4.8 to 5 billion monthly. In January 2025, the state generated 4.6 billion naira. This is a good development that needs to be consolidated.
A member of Tax Justice and Governance Platform, Ify Unachukwu, read the recommendations from the study carried out in the 21 selected markets.
“One of the things we are recommending is critical and strategic media awareness creation. It’s very important. We know you have a jingle running, but there is need to re-strategize.
“Our other recommendation is about your USSD system. You need to redesign it because from our radio programme, people are really interested in it and we need to disseminate information about it in our local language to aid general understanding. Same goes for notification for payment.
“We also recommend fully-digitized revenue collection system and seamless collaboration and coordination between MDAs and tiers of government”.
Responding, Dr Ezeilo appreciated the efforts of SIDEC and TG&GP in putting the report together.
“I thank you for this report. It is a reference document for the future. I just held a press briefing on our resolve to stop collection of cash.
“The time has come to stop anybody collecting cash as revenue. It is either the person is a criminal or is not working for us. So, if you are our agent and you want to be part of what we are doing, you must embrace technology”.
“In the transport sector, every tricyclist which has enrolled has a QR code. You use a scan on that QR code to give your details about your tricycle and tell you how much he has paid. It tells him how much is in his wallet, when his next payment is due and how much. If he is owing, it will show. Besides, that tricycle cannot be stolen. If it is stolen, we can track it”.
“We are going to the markets next week Tuesday to begin enumeration. And then we are deploying similar technology. As soon as they come to your shop, they punch all the data about your wares. And then we make an estimate of what your revenue and turnover are and you get a demand note for tax payment.
We will also get the local governments not to collect cash because such will be criminalized. So, we now have e-ticketing and all the people now carrying sticks on the main road will become e-ticket agents. So, we have a bulk buyer who sells the ticket (tokens) through POS or mobile transfer.
To achieve this, Ezeilo explained, “we have established smart hubs in the markets. Each hub has a computer or laptop, a printer and a solar panel for regular power supply. It can host 2 or 3 tax officials. So, from the hubs, our officials will be moving into the stalls to do enumeration and get the needed data,” AiRS Chairman said.
