Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, on Thursday banned all motor parks’ unions and market associations from collecting revenue on behalf of the state government.
The governor gave this directive at a one-day town hall meeting with the transport and market unions’ executives in Anambra State in a renewed fiscal move to plug leakages in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
A statement issued by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, which contained the directive, indicated that the governor stressed that his administration would commence implementation of a new tax and levy regime in Anambra markets, roads and parks effective from July 1, 2022.
Soludo clarified that henceforth the new tax regime would be vigorously pursued to avoid abuses in tax administration in the state, adding that the new tax regime becomes imperative in view of the dwindling oil revenue to Nigeria and the negative impact on sub-national governments in the country.
The governor recalled that since February this year, no remittance had been made by the Nigeria Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) into the federation account as money accruable from the sale of crude oil is gradually dwindling.
He cautioned those posing as government revenue collectors in any part of the state to desist from such misrepresentation or face the full wrath of the law.
Soludo ordered that henceforth, all public parks owned by the government would be directly managed by the government, adding that caretaker committee members in Anambra markets are also forbidden from collecting revenue on behalf of the government.
Also, he to those who might be adversely affected by the new order to look beyond their personal interest and see a larger picture of making Anambra succeed for the greater good of the people.
