Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Monday reconstituted the state’s Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) with a view to enhancing Internally Generated Revenue in the state.
Inaugurating the board in Enugu, Ugwuanyi said that “the current economic depression had severely threatened the economy of the state.”
According to him, the economic challenges in the country have made it imperative to devise new and effective ways of raising revenue for the state.
He said that the BIR had a crucial role to play in the onerous task of making the state viable, adding that the Board would have no reason to fail in its
responsibility.
Ugwuanyi noted that with the dwindling allocation from the federation account, most state governments had resorted to self-help to fund their activities and meet other obligations.
“As a result of the current economic condition, we are struggling to meet our financial commitments of payments of salaries and meeting other social services,” he said.
The governor added that the state government was determined to utilse all monies generated for the benefit of residents of the state.
He appealed to individuals and corporate organisations in the state to be alive to their civic responsibilities in order to help government to develop the state.
Responding, the Chairman of the Board, Mr Chukwuemeka Odo, said members were ready to diligently operate a leak-proof revenue generation system for the state.
Odo said that the BIR would ensure that all taxable persons in the state discharged their civic obligations and would adopt technology-driven mechanism to block leakages.
Other members of the Board include Mr Chuks Onodugo, Mr Jude Egbo, Mr Joseph Onuoha and Mrs Chinasa Akadigwe.
NAN
