The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) has recruited over 200 staff in a bold move to eliminate loopholes in tax payment and enhance revenue collection in order to boost massive infrastructural developments across the state.
Addressing the new employees at a strategic training programme anchored by the professional services firm, Price Waterhouse Cooper, at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, Tuesday, the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia urged them to ensure the success of the revenue drive of the state government.
He stated that the government was committing over one billion naira in every Smart Green School project in each of the 260 electoral wards in the state, stressing that this had never happened in the state before.
“The government is completing the International Conference Centre, restoring the Hotel Presidential which was the pride of Enugu, as well as the building Smart Green Schools, Type 2 Primary Health Care Centers, among others. The state has over 1000 projects going on simultaneously across the state and will require increased revenue to complete them”, he stated.
Impressed with the progress of revenue ESIRS so far, the SSG commended the chairman of the revenue agency for a job well done, saying: “The ESIRS Chairman here along with his team has done a great job collecting and enforcing tax laws. We have been accountable because this money is the people’s money and it is our responsibility to make sure it is tracked and used effectively. Currently we are on the right track having seen our IGR rise astronomically far more than we did previously.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Nathaniel E. Urama clarified that the recruitment was aimed at leapfrogging revenue collection and block existing loopholes.
“We are here to support what the governor promised Ndi-Enugu and ensure that it comes to fulfillment. With this large recruitment, the ESIRS is positioned to revolutionize revenue collection in Enugu State, ensuring that funds are generated and utilized efficiently for the benefit of the people.
“The people of Enugu are already seeing things working to their expectations because things are really changing. The disruptive innovation is already ongoing; people are now even willing to pay their tax because they see that what they are paying is being used. From this number we have recruited and the revenue to be collected, I am sure that given the dedication and zeal of the governor who is willing to use the state’s money to help move residents out of poverty, Enugu will become destination of choice”, he said.
Responding, the Chairman of ESIRS, Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani gave assurance that the agency would continue to meet up and surpass people’s expectations. “We need to prove to the governor that the recruitment of 200 young staff is beneficial to the state. The new recruits would bring in fresh energy, enabling the state to double its revenue collection within a few months,” he said.
