GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has inaugurated a four-man tax appeal commission.
The governor, during the inauguration today, said their mandate is to deal with “complaints arising from those who do not want to pay their taxes, while also prevailing on those who believe that the tax body is doing what it is not supposed to do”.
This is despite an Appeal Court ruling in Abuja today, ordering that status quo be maintained by all parties as regards Value Added Tax collection.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, the Governor urged the members of the commission to enshrine a new culture in which taxable persons and entities comply with the relevant tax laws in the state without hesitation.
Justice Bennett Eke Ugbari (rtd) was appointed as the chairman of the commission while Edwin Krukrubo, Owhonda Ihekwoaba Nobel and Gift Sovins were appointed commissioners.
The Governor noted that taxes are important sources of revenues for any government to shore up its needs for funds to implement its development agenda.
According to him “It is a very serious assignment at this period as regards to what is going on. So, I believe that you have to take this assignment as a call of duty from your state.
“No country can survive without taxes. And so, you will do all you can to support the government and the citizens to do what they’re supposed to do.
“I have confidence in you; the chairman, that you’ll be able to lead the members of the commission to do the right thing.”
