By Ugani Elijah
Obudu Local Government Council in Cross River State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Cross River State Government’s SmartGov in a deal facilitated by the Growth and Employment in States, GEMS3 on improved approach to revenue collection using the Point of Sale (POS) machine within the council’s jurisdiction.
The council chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Ugbe speaking while signing the MoU said, “This improved approach will help to curb leakages in revenue collection and boost internally generated revenue. This development is one of the outcomes of a series of engagement made by us to the organized private sector within and outside the state to attract them to Obudu. He announced that shortly, we will set up the Obudu Local Government Steering Committee on Tax-for-Service, TS which will comprise of all key stakeholders within our community here to help us drive this initiative for the benefit of our people”.
Going further, he maintained that the approach is also aimed at harmonizing taxes and sensitize tax payers to reduce issues such as double and illegal taxation, thereby strengthening socio-economic growth in the region”. He assured members of his executive council that the process will be as transparent as possible, as he reiterated his commitment to them.
On her part, the Cross River State Manager GEMS3, a project funded by the United Kingdom, UK Department for International Development Mrs. Geraldine Oko maintained that “GEMS3 works for both private and public sector at all levels to deliver a systematic framework that helps to make it easier to do business in Nigeria.
She posited that this union will lead to lasting improvements in economic opportunities for the poor, especially women. Adding that, it also aims to leave sustainable working systems as part of its legacy, making Nigeria a better place to do business for inclusive growth. “This program has a mandate to take this reform across all 18 Local Governments in Cross River State in phases”, she said.
Reacting on behalf of the Obudu Traditional Rulers Council, Chief Obem Orim, Clan Head of Ukpe, thanked the Chairman of Council for the foresight and promised to take the message to his contemporaries and all and sundry, stressing. “The Traditional Rulers Council will key behind this project and will do its needful to support the system”, the chief ended.
The Chairman of the Obudu Traders Union, OUT, Mr. Emma Ugwu commended the Chairman and his team for the initiative, promising that the POS machine would be unveiled at the level of the traders union in Obudu to further create awareness. He expressed high hopes that the POS will yield better tax result maintaining that the market traders were part of the deliberations that yielded this result which he is delighted about.