Ingobere Tasks Esetebefa To Boost The IGR Of Bayelsa State.

 

Abraham Ingobere, the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly,  has reminded  Eniekezimene Daniel Esetebefa,  the newly screened

 Chairman of Board of Internal Revenue (IGR), of his  responsibility to raise the IGR of the state and remit appropriately to the treasury.

According to the speaker who represents  Brass constituency 3 said  that  the internally generated revenue for any state is a supplementary source of income to the monthly statutory allocation.

Speaking on Tuesday in Yenagoa after the screening,  he said that it is a fact that Bayelsa state has a low internally generated revenue among the comity of states  ranking the 30th in the country.

 He said " it is mandatory that you enhance the revenue base by not undermining the tax payers ability to pay in order not to create further hardship". 

"Obviously, having known your pedigree and career, we believe and have hope that you will bring your wealth of experience to bear in this your anticipated job. The  state's expectations are high in terms of increased internally generated revenue and remittances therefore, it is seen as a veritable avenue for both national and subnational government for revenue generation".

Answering questions from some of the lawmakers about what he can do to jack up the revenue and to block leakages in the state,  Eniekemene, said the attitude of the revenue collectors have to change towards investors.

He said "A lot of companies are running away from Bayelsa because of arbitrary taxes. Except the matter is urgently addressed, the state will continue to loose revenue".

As regards the blockage of leakages said, he will do what he can with the help of others to workout the modality of how to go about it adding that  "The way and manner some youths are collecting revenue in the state will be look into.

"To boost the IGR of the state, investors should be given tax holiday and more friendly environment for investors. "Many investors are not coming to Bayelsa State because of the way they are being harassed by the revenue collectors and that has to be discouraged".

Some time of the lawmakers who drilled the screened chairman includes Wisdom Fafi representing Kolokuma/Opokuma Constituency 2,  Micheal Igbere representing Ekeremor Constituency 3,  Monday Edwin Obolo Leader of the House representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 2, Charles Daniel representing Brass consitituency  1 and Bernard Sunday Kenibai representing Sagbama Constituency 2.

In her word of advice,  Ebizi Ndiomu representing Sagbama Constituency 3 said the nominee should bring his wealth of experience to bear. 

" As a retired permanent secretary ministry of finance, in case your are cleared, try and  make a  difference in the state IGR. Work with others  to achieve results". 

Eniekemene Daniel Esetebefa is from Ayamasa in Ekeremor Local government area of the state.

 Recall that Eniekemene was nominated by  Governor Douye Diri to serve as the chairman of the internally generated revenue to replace the former chairman, Prof Nimibofa Ayawei who was recently appointed as the Secretary of the State Government (SSG).