By Frank Odey
It is very interesting to observe that marking one year in office has become a norm among political office holders and some private sector chieftains. This is understandable because such officers set short and long term agenda soon as they assume office which put them on focused lane.
It is against this background that one appreciates the celebration of the one year in office of the 10th Executive Chairman of the Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CR-IRS) Prince Edwin Okon. Appointed on Acting capacity on 19th July 2023 and confirmed by the State House of Assembly in March 2024, Prince Edwin Okon, an erudite professional remains optimistic that the state’s revenue potentials would be fully harnessed and an average of ₦5 billion revenue would be generated monthly in 2025 with expected total revenue of ₦60 billion. He has also set a projection of ₦70 billion and ₦80 billion for the year 2026 and 2027 respectively.
For the records, the current Executive chairman of the CR-IRS, Prince Okon upon assumption of office met an average monthly revenue of ₦1.7 billion and ₦1.8 billion. Indeed the corresponding proceeding period stood at ₦22.6 billion in 2023 but this grew to over ₦32.4 billion representing 62% growth at the end of May 2024.
Prince Okon led management upon assumption of office infused several changes that are already responding to revenue growth and overall improvement in the operations of the CR-IRS.
For instance, to achieve these projected targets, Prince Okon leadership has introduced far reaching principles and policies that have triggered steady revenue growth for the state among other things.
These include; Improved Staff Welfare: Enrollment of Adhoc Staff into the State Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee healthy workforce. Regular training and re-training of both permanent and Adhoc staff for increased performance. Improved and conducive office accommodation as well as provision o basic working tools. Robust and Expanded Taxpayers and Stakeholders Engagement(s) Regular engagement and collaboration with critical stakeholders.
Training of Revenue consultants and Agents to fully integrate into the revenue agenda of the new and rebirth IRS.
Engagements with corporate Taxpayers at their operational bass to further elicit their cooperation and compliance.
Special focus on the taxpayers’ sensitization through the traditional rulers’ machination for all inclusive participation for full implementation of the presumptive tax 2023. Increased media outreach and advocacy. Improved and Robust Automation System to Block Leakages:
The service is leveraging on the automation of our solutions partners; NUGI Technologies and Pay Talk Ltd to reduce pots of Revenue leakages.
Rolling out a dependable billing system across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to give clear and full revenue reporting, accounting and transparency.
Advocating the revenue harmonization of Local and state government to provide friendly environment to attract investments.
Administrative Restructure: Creation of new operational departments in response to the revenue aspiration of the state. Decentralization of supervision to zonal offices manned by Zonal Directors. Construction and creation of sub-Tax Offices to expand coverage and capture new taxpayers into the tax net. The return of motor vehicles administration from trama to Internal Revenue Service for effectiveness and efficiency.
Indeed, it is heartwarming that the present leadership of Prince Okon carefully carried along his management team making them to understand his policy direction and they in turn have offered him maximum co-operation which has yielded the much desired improvement in the state IGR.
While commending the doggedness, professionalism and patriotism of Prince Okon, it is crucial to praise His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Otu for carefully selecting and appointing him as the Executive Chairman of the IRS under his administration.
A critical area as the CR-IRS deserved no less, and more assuring of the bright future for the CR-IRS is the commitment of governor Otu to expanding investors and investment in the productive sector which he gave when a delegation of Trade Assessors from the World Bank visited him in May this year.
Over and above all, one commends the management team, the staff both regular and Adhoc of the CR-IRS for their team work & commitment and indeed all Cross Riverians for appreciating the need to pay their lawful taxes and levies without coercion or force.
The truth is that the job of the CR-IRS Executive Chairman will be made easier as long as the current development stride of Governor Bassey Otu is sustained. This is so because tax payers will see the essence of paying taxes and levies as at when due.
All said, and going forward the Executive Chairman needs to review the operations of some revenue collection agents who are still very uncivil in the discharge of their duties.
Happy one year anniversary Executive Chairman and your team.
By Frank Odey (A Commentator on Public issues)
