From Johnkennedy Uzoma,Owerri
Governor Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State has assured of proper utilization of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for infrastructural rehabilitation of the state.
The governor disclosed this on Friday on the occasion of his 100 days in office held at the Cenotaph, Concord Road, Owerri.
While expressing satisfaction over the increase in the internally generated revenue of the state, the governor said that the IGR has moved from N2.51million in June 2019 to N4.32m in July and N8.35 million in August 2019.
He said his administration have set up a structure for transparency and accountability in the governance process by signing into law, Executive Order 005, known as Treasury Single Account (TSA) Order to consolidate all government revenues under one account.
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He also said that government has adopted other measures designed to plug leakages and increase Internally Generated Revenues (IGR).
Ihedioha said there cannot be any right growth in a state without a sustainable revenue generating system adding that with a state that has less than 5 per cent of the working population of over two million paying taxes, noting that the situation is unacceptable.
He said: “We met an arbitrary tax collection system leading to leakages, fraud and all sorts of irregularities.”
The Governor said that to ensure a sustainable IGR regime, the government took steps to reform the state’s Internal Revenue Service, adding that government has placed a ban all cash tax payment with effect from August 2019 and mandated the use of the pay direct platform with a single source sweeping of revenue.
According to him, the policy has started addressing the issue of multiple accounts and leakages in the state.
Ihedioha disclosed the intention of government to relocate temporarily members of the legislature to another location to enable it carry out renovation work at the House of Assembly building. He lamented that the House of Assembly building housing the hallow chambers and the offices of the legislators are already in bad shape and deserves total renovation to encourage effective and healthy legislative business.