Ugwuanyi reconstitutes new revenue board

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has inaugurated the newly reconstituted State Board of Internal Revenue, charging members to come up with new and effective strategies aimed at beefing up the State’s revenue base in view of the present daunting economic challenges in the country.
The new board is chaired by Chukwuemeka Anthony Odo, who pledged, on behalf of the members, to work diligently to operate a leak-proof revenue generation system for the state in order to shore up its economy.
While inaugurating the board at the Government House, Enugu yesterday, Governor Ugwuanyi explained that the charge on the members to work hard on their assignment has become necessary in the face of the severe economic depression that is threatening the solvency of government at all levels.
He observed that with the allocation from the federation account dwindling rapidly, most State governments have become increasingly dependent on internally generated revenue to fund their activities and service their obligations.
“Government as a result of the current economic condition, is struggling to meet its financial commitments to pay salaries, fund development activities, ensure social services and maintain security, among others”, the governor stated.
Governor Ugwuanyi pointed out that he had earlier envisaged this situation when he warned in his inaugural speech that revenue generation agencies should be ready to intensify efforts to generate more revenues to fund government’s development efforts.
He equally charged members of the board to ensure that all revenues accruable to government are fully collected and all avenues of leakages are effectively checked.
He promised that every Kobo that accrues to government will be fully utilised transparently and in a manner that will transform the life of every citizen of Enugu State.
On his part, Odo, a former executive director of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc., stated that their appointment came at a time when the crashed oil price has affected the economic fortunes of the country negatively, and assured that they will explore and exploit all sources of internally generated revenue to ensure that government meets its obligations to the people.