by crossriverwatch admin
In a move to boost its internally generated revenue, the Cross River State Government has approached traditional rulers to assist it in ensuring that the citizens pay their taxes.
The acting Chairman, Cross River Internal Revenue Service, Dr. Peter Oti, who made the plea on Wednesday during a visit to the Paramount Ruler of Bekwarra, Ushie Kakpa, and his counterpart in Yala, Ogamode Inah, said such a move would awaken the consciousness of the citizens.
He said the visit was part of the sensitisation of the traditional institution on the need for the people to pay their taxes so as to enable the government to provide essential services.
“We are here as part of our efforts to awaken the consciousness of the people towards taxation through the traditional rulers,” Oti said.
He said the payment of taxation was compulsory for all income earning citizens, adding that before now, the government did not bother so much about taxes due to inefficiencies in the revenue collection system.
The chairman said that Bekwarra ranked 10th on the revenue profile index among the 18 local government areas of the state, adding that the situation was far from encouraging.
Oti said the state government was executing people-oriented projects, including rural electrification, road construction, schools and rural agriculture.
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