Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu has directed all MDAs and LGAs in the state to comply fully with Abia State Revenue Laws and the Abia State Internal Revenue Service (ABIRS) directives in order to achieve the much needed revenue for development.
Governor Ikpeazu gave this charge when he met with members of the state IGR Council to express his concerns towards the current economic downturn in the country as it affects the state’s economy, given that a significant drop in FAAC disbursements is expected in the coming months.
While commending all stakeholders for their efforts in growing and sustaining the state’s revenue from N500 million to the current N1.5 billion monthly, the governor disclosed that the minimum amount of IGR required to run the state monthly was between N2.5 billion and N3.5 billion. In order to attain this threshold, the need for government to be innovative, efficient and proactive towards IGR growth cannot be overemphasised, he said.
The governor gave matching orders to the Council as it concerns revenue collection administration and directed that planned innovations that would lead to the realisation of the N3 billion targeted monthly revenue must be implemented immediately.
He made no exceptions and warned that any MDA hiding any revenue source would be severely sanctioned.
He also mandated the state’s IRS to report all non-compliant MDAs by the end of May, including MDAs that refused to accept an ABIRS desk officer at their ministries, emphasising that any personnel involved would be redeployed immediately.
He also made compliance to the set standards of the ABIRS as provided by the Law a condition pre-requisite for any appointment to leadership roles in any MDA in the state.
He reiterated his commitment and resolves to ensure attainment of the state’s IGR target for the continuing growth and development of the state and welfare of the citizens, and would therefore not tolerate any kind of encumbrances from anyone.
The meeting had in attendance, the deputy governor/chairman of the state IGR Council, Ude Oko Chukwu, the secretary to the state government, Chris Ezem, attorney general and commissioner for justice, Uche Ihediwa, commissioner for finance, Aham Uko, deputy chief of staff, permanent secretaries, and accountant general, among other top government functionaries.
In a similar note, the state has made known it resolve to collaborate with NEXIM Bank to expand the frontiers of the Aba Shoe Industry.
Aaccording to the governor, his administration will be open to greater collaboration with, and support from the Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM) towards expanding the shoe sector in the state to measure up to the standard available in international markets.
The governor, who made this known when he received in audience the delegation of NEXIM Bank led by its managing director/CEO, Abubakar Bello at the Governor’s Lodge Aba, explained that his administration had tackled headlong the major problems facing the leather and garments sector.
The problems include automation, marketing and power supply, he said, noting that the aggressive marketing of Made in Aba products embarked upon by his administration had increased the confidence of the average Aba producer and this had started yielding positive results.
This was contained in a statement sent by Onyebuchi Ememanka, chief press secretary to the governor.
According to the governor, apart from sending 30 Abia youths to China to study automated shoe production and the procurement of the machines to ensure consistency and massive production, his administration through dedication and synergy with the Federal Government attracted the Ariaria Independent Power while the Geometric Power supply is in its last stage of completion the process to boost power supply.
He expressed satisfaction that the state had attracted the interest and partnership with major global shoe manufacturers, and the State Polytechnic in Aba would work closely with the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company (ENASCO) and the Footwear Academy in Aba to develop an academic programme for the certification of skilled shoemaker while the State Quality Control Agency would ensure high quality of these products.
He appreciated the technical support so far received from the Enyimba Automated Shoe Company and encouraged all to take pride in their locally made goods as a way of supporting the young artisans in the shoe and leather garments sector, which will have positive effects on the economy.
Speaking earlier, the managing director/CEO of the Nigeria Export Import Bank, Abubakar Bello, said their visit was to seek strategic partnership with Abia State in building skills of shoe manufacturers and other leather products with the aim of making Aba the headquarters of shoe manufacturing, not just in Nigeria but in Africa.
He noted with delight the efforts the governor had made in the aggressive marketing of Made in Aba goods, noting that their involvement would tackle head on, and the challenges of restrictions in the export process as well as tariffs.
Bello formally sought the collaboration of the state in this direction and made a request to immediately visit the Shoe Factory, a request the governor granted at once.
