CHUKS NWEZE from Enugu writes that the Enugu state govermor, Mr Peter Mbah has begun to live up to his campaign promises of ensuring massive infrastructural development funded through aggressive revenue drive via the electronic ticketing system (e-ticket) of taxation
Mbah’s ‘distructive approach to governance’
When a kite is hovering in the sky, it is easy to guess the likely place it is about to perch. This wise saying is true of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu state.
Mbah, a no-smiling governor, left no one in doubt during his campaigns that when he becomes governor, it would be no business or politics as usual.
He said he would adopt a disruptive approach to governance; that what the people had not been witnessing before, they would start to witness it.
Water in every nook nd cranny
During his campaigns, he made tall pledges to transform Enugu state by ensuring that water flows in every nook and cranny of the state.
He even said that within 180 days, people who hawk water in tankers would look for another job because water would be available everywhere, and true to his avowal, water has started flowing in some areas that hitherto witnessed dry pipes and taps.
Increasing GDP
Apart from water, one area Mbah harped on, and has continued to harp on ceaselessly, is that he would grow the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), currently placed at N4.4 billion to N30 billion in the next eight years, if given the opportunity to complete two tenures as the governor of Enugu state.
It was a big wonder how this could be achieved but Mbah has continued to emphasise that “this is achievable.”
In his bid to transform the state, Mbah, among other things, promised to better the lot of the youth with a view to checking the crave for youth moving out of the state and the country in a bid to seek greener pastures which has come to be known today as ‘Japa Syndrome.”
To achieve this, Mbah promised to actively engage the youth in meaningful ventures in agriculture, science and technology and to introduce them to skills acquisition which would keep them busy.
He envisaged that by empowering youth, the tendency to take to crimes would be reduced if not eliminated.
From the moves made by Mbah so far since May 29, 2023 he assumed power as the governor of Enugu state, it can be deduced that the development projects he mapped out during his campaign days and after, will be hinged on aggressive revenue drive.
Not leaving anyone in doubt that increasing the GDP from N4.4 billion to N30 billion will not be an empty promise but an achievable reality, the Mbah-led administration has flagged off aggressive revenue drive.
Electronic ticketing system
He kick-started it with the launching of electronic ticketing system tagged, ‘e-ticket,’ a consolidated taxation method meant at getting revenue from every available revenue outlet without over taxing the people by imposing double taxation on them.
The e-ticket became a reality from September 27 when it was flagged off with the tricyle riders known as ‘Keke’ for a start before it will spread to other areas.
The state government spokesman said “the idea was to ensure that no one escapes paying tax in Enugu state”.
The Enugu state executive chairman Board of Internal Revenue, Enugu (BOIR), Mr. Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, who is the man that will champion the revenue drive said that “there was no way the government would give the people the needed democracy dividends if they do not pay their taxes and levies”.
According to Nnamani, Governor Mbah had a lot of development projects mapped out and there is no way he can execute them without enough funds.
He reiterated that the governor has made a projection to increase the state’s GDP from $4.4 bn to $30 bn in the next eight years, saying that this would not be possible if the people are not carrying out their duties and obligations to the state.
To make this achievable and realisable Nnamani said that the state was determined “to explore all areas of income generation.”
He said, “The people have not been paying taxes and past administrations overlooked it but the present administration is determined to ensure that they appreciate the impact of tax payment.
“The areas of economic growth is taxes. Our people have not been paying taxes. In our environment, people are happy that they do not pay tax..
“Without taxes, there will be no development. We shall go into areas where people call no-go areas,” he said, pointing out that the e-ticket is for the informal sector.
The chairman said that taxi drivers, Keke operators and traders hardly pay taxes but were now going to do so, hence the launching of the e-ticketing to enable government get revevenue from them.
Nnamani however said that the taxes were going to be consolidated to eschew double taxation and to remove touting in income generation.
“Taxes will be consolidated through the e-ticketing. Union dues, local government charges are all consolidated and it is through one charge. We are also implementing the e-ticketing in our markets.”
Nnamani said very soon, people would not be able to access government services without evidence of tax payment.
The chairman pointed out that no stone would be left unturned in the revenue drive, adding that landlords, hotel owners, hospitality industries and media organisations would not be left out. According to him, advertisements placed in the media houses would be paid for.
He also pointed out that communities will now be paying taxes through their traditional rulers or their president generals because, “we want our people to feel the impact that they are paying taxes. We want people to have the consciousness tat taxes must be paid.”
Nnamani explained that to get tax from the communities, the traditional rulers, town Union heads would be responsible and would account for the taxes collected from their respective communitiwil
Doing away with old method
He said that the ancient style of chasing people about in the villages to pay taxes and levies would no longer be fashionable.
“We are not going to chase people in communities. We shall discuss with Igwes, President Generals. They have to account for the taxes from the communities. We want people to feel the impact that they are paying taxes. We want people to have consciousness that taxes must be paid,” Nnamani said.
He however noted that government will not just be collecting taxes from the people but that government will use the monies thus collected to embark on development projects such as building more modern school blocks, roads, bridges and other social amenities.
Nnamani pointed out that no one would be left out in the craze for revenue drive because landords, hotel owners, banks and other business owners will have to pay taxes.
He said that the issue of taxation would be taken serious because with time, people will start showing their tax receipts for them to assess government services such as schools and government facilities, adding that market traders and unions will now be paying taxes and levies.
“We are also going to implement the e-ticketing in our markets. We do not want many people collecting taxes. Very soon, you won’t access any government services without paying tax. You have to show tax certificate. You have to show evidence of tax payment.
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“We need to make that money now. We are leaving the past and we are charting a new course,” he said pointing out that they are expecting exponential economic growth in the state.
Nnamani explained that what they were embarking on was not new because it is statutory.
“It is in our law but they were abandoned over the years. Each community will be required to pay tax. The communities have to see evidence that they are paying to the government. We want to implement what is in our law.”
The chairman of Board of Internal Revenue, Nnamani said other states like Lagos were already pursuing aggressive revenue drive and that Enugu state was determined to follow suit.
Most traffic lights that had been comatose have been revitalised in the state and it is believed that it is aimed at yielding revenue for the state because those who beat traffic lights will have to pay heavy penalty and the proceeds will increase the revenue base of the state.
