Plateau state governor Simon Lalong on Thursday said his
administration in line with the her five policy thrust would
continuously engage stakeholders in the Plateau project in finding a
solution to challenges faced by citizens of the state. Lalong made this known while declaring open a one day tax matters
workshop and engagement with members of the state executive council and
chief Executive of Boards ,Parastatals and agencies of Plateau state .
He said I warmly welcome you all to this important occasion of a one
day workshop on tax Matters ,in collaboration with government ministries
departments and agencies ,(MDAs ) with a view to exploring better ways
of boosting the state,s Internally Generated revenue( IGR )
Gov Lalong who was represented by his deputy Professor Sonni Tyoden
also said ” This engagement would not have come at a better time than
this ,given the coming on board of new members of the boards
,Parastatals and agencies of government.
The theme of this engagement ” Collaboration ,synergy, and Legal
Compliance Parameters, Optimizing Internally Generated Revenue IGR
Collection in Plateau state for Effective service delivery and
development “is not only timely ,but necessary in pur quest as a
government to improve the IGR of Plateau for the purpose of accelerating
the much needed development of the state .
Government, s commitment to service delivery in the face of the face
of economic misfortune occasioned by the drop of the revenue accruing
to the Nation on monthly bases ,necessitated our thinking out of the box
under this new reality ,it is because of this that emphasis has been
placed by our rescue administration on revenue generation ,collection
and application to meet the needs at hand ,just as man himself cannot
survive without the continuous intake of air for life ,no government
,society and community ,can survive without resources ,our successful
execution of developmental projects will not come by just mere wishes
but through the practical effort of the people to collectively engage in
the mobilization of revenue for an effective service delivery to take
place
This workshop and interagency engagement is therefore aimed at
increasing stakeholders awareness on the legal frame work and policy
reforms in the area of tax administration in Plateau state ,in line with
the provision of the Plateau state Revenue (Consolidation) law ,I
signed into law in 2016 .
The meeting will also provide the opportunity for members of the
state executive council and heads of MDAs to fully engage on the needed
collaborative parameters ,plus their individual and collective roles in
fostering the needed synergy for the diligent ,timely ,transparent and
leakage free collection ,as well as prompt remittance of IGR ,under the
purviews consistent with the Budgetary projections of government for
2018 fiscal year
Our responsibility us not only to provide solutions to present
challenges but to bequeath to posterity workable solutions for
envisaged challenges .
Also speaking at the occasion the Executive chairman of the Plateau
state Internal Revenue Service Mr Dashe Arlat said the workshop
objectives is to increase awareness of participants on the legal
framework and policy reforms in the area of tax administration in
Plateau state against the backdrop of Plateau state Revenue
consolidation law signed into law by Gov Lalong
He said We are determined to fully engage and rouse members of the
state executive council and heads of MDA,s on needed collaborative
parameters ,including your individual and collective roles in fostering
the needed synergy for the diligent timely and transparent ,/leakage
free collection and prompt remittance of IGR under their purview
,consistent with the budgetary projections of the government in 2018 .
We would frankly share ,discuss and adopt a common position that will
enhance better understanding and to secure the coo operation of all
MDA,s on how you each ought to optimize your performance by meeting and
even exceeding the ministerial revenue targets as enunciated by Gov
Simon Lalong .
Commissioner of finance in Plateau state Dr Regina Soemlat said to
achieve the IGR objective of Plateau state government within the
shortest possible time ,Ministries ,department and agencies must show
commitment and determination in revenue generation to strengthen the
financial base of the state ,this implies that all MDAs must intensify
efforts to tap and harness all revenues to boost the coffers of the
state .
Our correspondent reports that papers were presented by Nde Ezekiel
Gomos Director ,Jos Business School ,Professor CJ Dakas, Dean faculty of
law Unijos,Barrister Akin Omoware ,state coordinator GIZ Plateau ,while
the facilitator was Barrister Haruun Audu