Port Harcourt- The Rivers State House Assembly yesterday directed the Special Adviser to Governor Chibuike Amaechi on Revenue Generations, Nwankwo Nwankwo and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, to appear before it over what it called the state’s dwindling internally generated revenue.
Also summoned was the Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Board, Mrs. Onene Osila Obele. The invitation followed a motion to strengthen the internal revenue base of the state, which was presented by Deputy Leader of the House, Robinson Ewor.
Ewor, in the motion, urged the House to strengthen the revenue base to enable the chief executive meet up with the daily administration of the state.[eap_ad_2]
He pointed out that in the past one year, the state has witnessed a downward trend in monies accruing to the state from the federation account.
“From a monthly average of about N17 billion to N13 billion; this amount cannot cater for the payment of staff salaries, overheard and general administration of the state,” he said.
In his contribution, Leader of the House, Chidi Lloyd, stated that there was a monumental fraud going on at the internal revenue office, accusing the board of not making efforts to improve the revenue base of the state.
Lloyd reiterated his earlier opposition during the screening of the chairman and members of the board, where he said the chairman should not occupy two positions at the same time.
He, therefore, suggested that the law establishing the board should be amended and the chairman should be prevented from occupying dual positions in the same institution.
In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee, who presided over the session, mandated the Clerk of the House to write to the three officers, inviting them to the next sitting.
He warned that no excuse would be accepted from them. “We are not ready to accept any excuse. There will be no room for any excuses,” he stated. (Daily Trust)[eap_ad_3]
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