BENIN CITY – Edo State Deputy Governor Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu has interfaced with commercial drivers and members of Road Transport employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), at new Central Park, Costain and parts of Isonorho Road Area in Benin City on the need to pay givernment stipulated levies and taxes.
In an interaction with a commercial bus drivers plying Costain Road, Comrade Shaibu stated that the move to monitor the tax payment at Costain junction was expedientso as to make an on the spot assessment of tax payment and their level of compliance.
He observed that, Costain junction was a key point for the collection of revenue for local government, state and even the union to grow the state.
Speaking with the commercial bus drivers, Shaibu said that buying the government approved and harmonized revenue scratch card for commercial bus drivers has an added advantage which enabled quick acquisition of a tax clearance from Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS).
Communicating with the driver in pidgin English to avoid misinformation, Shaibu told them that “Every year, just go there and show them these receipts. You would get your tax clearance. This other one is local government levy and union dues which entitle you to what the union has to give you in return for being a loyal member.”
He emphasised the need for sensitization campaign for proper tax enlightened amongst the drivers. He advised them to keep an eagle eye on the activities of authorized revenue collectors while imputing and uploading codes on scratch cards purchased electronically to ensure that vital information is actually keyed in to guide against sharp practices and loss of state’s revenue.
“If they don’t key in the correct information, the money goes directly into their private pockets. You would be made to believe that you have paid tax to government but you just enriched a sharp private individual.
Whenever you do this correctly the right way, you have paid for your personal income tax (PIT) as a worker. The other ones are levies for local government and driver’s unions such as RTEAN which you belong. Anytime your child is told to come with a tax clearance, just use these receipts to get it from EIRS. You don’t need to pay anything extra. It is evidence of your tax payment”.
The Deputy Governor noted that the move had become necessary because some of the commercial drivers have not been paying their, “Levies and taxes. It is normal to go round and check why they are not paying. It is just an on the spot assessment of areas where we believe people are not complying with the new arrangement put in place.
This junction, (Costain) acts as a key point for collection of revenue for the state, local government and even the union. As you can see, the stop and search we just did, based on information received, yielded result as the first two commercial buses we stopped had not paid.
This confirms the fact that the information we got about this place is correct. Now, we have sensitized them and we are putting some of our enforcers here to monitor and make sure that the collections are made. If we do not pay taxes there is no way all the beautiful things we want to do for our state will be possible.
I am using this medium to appeal to the people of Edo State. Your tax is key to the development of the state. We should encourage our friends, well wisher’s and colleagues to pay their taxes so that we can develop our state.
Without the taxes, obviously, it will be difficult to get those things done. I know it is difficult for people to pay tax but it is important that they pay if they need the good services that they deserve.”
He stated, “We just inspected a building for a likely catchment zone, for which a park would be situated. Indiscriminate parking will not be accepted so that we will not only collate data but have certain zones earmarked for parking and loading”
The Deputy Governor later joined the 2020 Sub National Immunization plus Days (SIPDs) supplementary road awareness show at the Kings Square to catch the last child ages 0-5years, who were not captured in the four days of campaign where he encouraged and immunized such kids but called on parents to access the free and safe oral Polio immunization antigen.
Comrade Shaibu said, ” I am actually happy that going through the distance we just walked, I could only get two un-immunized children. It shows that the exercise is successful. Most of the children we met, about twenty of them on this stretch, already had their fingers marked.
Even before you get to them, they inform you that they have already been vaccinated, with marks to show on their fingers. It shows the awareness is actually high. I also want to commend the team for their hard work. I am happy that we were able to hype the awareness on vaccine preventable diseases.”
The team comprised Edo State Commissioner for Heath, Dr. Patrick Okundia, State Coordinator World Health Organization (WHO) Mrs. Faith Ireye, Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) DR. (Mrs.) Julie Erhabor and other key health partners who all affirmed to the success of the awareness campaign. They announced an extension of the exercise to January 15, 2020, for adequate capture of all children.
