EXCLUSIVE: Enugu Governor Plans To Increase Levies, Taxes To Shore Up IGR

Posted by African Examiner Exclusive Reports, Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, July 2nd, 2015

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu – As part of measures to save the State the embarrassment of unpaid salaries as being experienced in some States of the Federation, the Enugu state government has concluded plans to hike all levies payable by the residents by 50 percent.

Our Correspondent exclusively gathered from a source close to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, led administration, that the State’s Chief Executive, had resolved that the only way to avoid challenge of unpaid salaries of workers is to embark on aggressive drive on internally Generated Revenue, (IGR).

Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwanyi

AFRICAN EXAMINER, recalled that Governor, Ugwuanyi, had during his inauguration on May 29, declared that his administration would not tolerate tax defaulters, or non-payment of social amenity levies.

Said Ugwuanyi: “individuals, and corporate entities should henceforth start paying tax, as defaulters will not be counted as friends of Enugu state”

“Every revenue-generating agency of government should be ready to generate and remit revenues to fund government development effort.

The source hinted that some of the social amenities that citizens of the state would soon start paying heavily before enjoying them includes, water, Sanitation, property rate, local government levy, business premises rate, among others.

Meanwhile, residents of the State have risen against the alleged extortion by traffic and sanitation officials in the state in the name of enforcing applicable laws.

During a town hall meeting recently organized by an Enugu based non-governmental organization NGN, the Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Association (PRAWA), in conjunction with the Enugu State Justice Reform Team, the J4A, residents expressed concern over activities of traffic and sanitation agents of the state.

They accused officials of the government agencies including the Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA), the Capital Territory Development Authority, the Ministry of Transport as well as those of local councils of exploiting the masses and road users in the name of complying with traffic and sanitation rules.

To this end, they urged the state government to as a matter of urgency intervene and arrest the disturbing situation.

Speaker after Speaker, during the town hall meeting, lamented how officials who enforce compliance now engage in all manner of unruly and illegal conducts while on their duties.

The South East Zonal Director of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mrs. Uche Nwokocha, in her remarks, noted that the ugly trend had continued was due to use of “untrained” personnel to man the various road junctions where traffic lights are installed in the state.