Chairman of the Edo Internal Revenue Services, Chief Oseni Elamah told journalists on Monday that the government had disengaged the services of Akugbe Ventures who was responsible for collecting levies from commercial drivers in the state on behalf of the state government.
Elamah said unions like the Road Transport Employers Association, Drivers Welfare Scheme and National Union of Road Transport Workers were barred from collecting union dues on the high way.
Elamah noted that existing extant laws forbade government from engaging agents for the purpose of collecting taxes and levies from citizens. He said revenue accruing to the government at all levels were supposed to be collected in a prescribed manner and not through agents or consultants.
Elamah explained that all eligible tax payers were expected to comply with relevant tax laws by filing annual tax returns on the basis on which they would be accessed on what to pay. The EIRS boss said no cash payment was allowed except through designated banks.
He urged commercial drivers to report anybody that harassed and intimidated them into paying money to them.
According to him, “The law gave government the power to generate revenue to render services to the people. The provisions there are that nobody has the power to mount road block in whatever name on the highway to collect revenue.
“We have written to the police to enforce this cashless revenue collection of the Edo State Government. We are implementing the federal government law which forbids anybody from mounting roadblock under the guise of collecting revenue. Any member of the public that is being harassed or intimidated should immediately report such person to the police.”
“We urged the police to arrest such persons because the laws does not allow the collection of revenue on our highways or streets. Whenever you pay, demand for government official receipt to be issued to you.”
Elamah also disclosed that the state government has begun implementation of the Presumptive Tax Regime which targeted the informal sector.
He said those in the informal sector would be encouraged to document their income over a period of one year to enable tax authorities ascertain their income.
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