Anti taxi agency: important to the development of Cross River- Ayade

...... Inaugurates LG representatives,Brigades and marshals

.....CRS govt,people pained by illegal taxation, Bishop Isong

By Emmanuel | Calabar

The Anti Tax Agency is very important to the development of Cross River state,as it seek to amerolirate the plight of the poor in the state.

Governor Ben Ayade  revealed this, just as  he   said  the state government is committed to ensuring that all forms of illegal taxation in the state are abolished in the interest of the poor in Cross River state.

Buttressing this position in  a one day stakeholders meeting with the theme "Anti Taxi Agency: justification and a way forward", the governor who spoke through two of his  Commissioners,  Mrs Rosemary Archibong, commerce and Commissioner for transportation hon Qua Edet Qua, praised the present administration for the initiative,noting it would help impact on the lives of the very poor of the society.

According to them the anti taxi agency has come to stay in the state and in the wisdom of the governor, the initiative is meant to make life better for the poor and the common people of the society. 

In the same vein,the Chairman of the Cross River State Anti Tax Agency, Bishop Emmah Isong  have said the government and people of the state are pained by the scourge of illegal taxation in the state.

This, he said informed the decision of the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade in setting up an agency to address this menace.

Bishop Isong made this known in Calabar.

He said: " There are so many multiple taxes imposed on people and the governor is angry, Cross Riverians are angry.

"The agency since its establishment has received several calls and complaints and we have decentralized it to reach all the 18 local government areas of the state and each local unit will be equipped with mobile gadgets to make them accessible.

"The enforcement is very simple and four mobile courts have been established to prosecute illegal tax collectors henceforth", he said.

He said the project is extra ordinary  and the first of it's kind in the country and emphasised that the passion of the governor in setting up the agency as well as his social programmes for the poor is a legacy.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Commence, Rosemary Archibong commended the governor for the initiative and stressed that the task before the agency is monumental.

She said if illegal taxation persists, the goals of the government in expanding the commence sector of the economy will not be actualized and expressed hope that the agency is equal to the task.

On his part, Oqua Edet, the Commissioner for Transport said the agency is very important for the development of the state.

He said the workshop will go a long way in addressing grey areas in their assignment  and charged MDAs and respective agencies to synergize with the agency for the development of the state.

END