Imo govt. advises revenue collection teams, security agencies on civility
By Victor Nwachukwu
Imo government on Thursday in Owerri urged revenue collection teams and security agencies in the state to be civil in the discharge of their duties.
Mr Justice Okoye, Chairman, Imo Internal Revenue Service (IIRS), gave the advice while declaring open a one-day training workshop on anger management organised for IIRS revenue enforcement teams.
Okoye said the workshop aimed at sensitising the enforcement teams and security agencies on the need to treat tax payers with utmost civility while tackling revenue violations and other related offences.
He added that the workshop was also aimed at educating tax payers on their civic obligations with a view to increasing the state’s internally generated revenue.
“We are gathered here today to be educated and trained on prevention of anger and the control of it when dealing with Imo public and our visitors alike.
“We are to achieve three main objectives which include inculcating the rule of law and order in our society; educating people on their civic obligations and ultimately generating and increasing the internal revenue base of Imo.
“This workshop is preparatory to commencing enforcement on revenue and other related violations in the state.
“I am certain that if we apply all that we will learn here, we will all share in the glory of Imo, my state, our state,’’ he said.
Mr Onamusi Joseph, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps in Imo, who spoke on the topic, “Road Traffic Violations and the Consequential Effects on the State Economy”, decried the refusal of motorists to renew their vehicle particulars.
This has led to a significant loss of revenue in the state, he said.
“Ironically, while the number of drivers is increasing, the number of drivers licenses produced for the state is decreasing.
“For example 15,681 drivers’ licences were produced in 2016; 12,000 in 2017; 9,400 in 2018 and only 5,999 in 2019.
“The figures have shown that the state is losing revenue. But while we are trying to do the needful, let’s be civil. Let’s not use abusive language on motorists and citizens,” he said.
Other state government functionaries who attended the workshop were the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Hope Uzodinma on public safety, Mr Ugochukwu Ezekwe and his traffic management counterpart, Mr Saviour Okiro. (NAN)
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