Nasarawa Speaker Harps On Need For Transparency At A Meeting With Revenue Bodies
By Nkrumah Bankong-Obi, Lafia
The speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Danladi Jatau, has implored organisations and agencies in charge of revenue collection in the state to be accountable in their activities. This he said will quicken development in the desired areas. The lawmaker gave this charge when members of Market Traders Association of Nigeria, MATAN and VAT Direct Initiative, VDI, in Lafia, on Tuesday. “I advise you to be transparent and accountable in your activities. Let transparency be your watchword,” he advised.
He noted that when tax collected all go to a single designated place, the country is better for it, as government is able to execute its policies and programmes within time frames. He thanked them for the visit, and pledged his willingness to make laws and pass resolutions that can stimulate business activities in Nasarawa State. “I want to thank you for taking bold steps to form this association. As you said, without revenue, we cannot achieve speedy development in the country. If all the revenue collected is channelled and properly remitted to the government account, there will be speedy development in the country,” Hon. Said.
Jatau praised the Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule for his efforts at developing the state. He advised that such efforts should be reciprocated to enable him do more for the people.
Speaking earlier, Alhaji Shehu Usman Dalhatu of MATAN and Juliana Dauda of VDI, said they visited to familiarize themselves with the workings of the Assembly and the Speaker. Both noted in their respective submissions that their agencies were formed to create jobs, enhance the welfare of the people and receive revenue and remit same to the government.
In an overview of their associations, Alhaji Dalhatu of MATAN said that his organisation was established in 1995 to serve as a vehicle for promoting awareness on the collection of VAT and remittance of same in informal sectors and market places. Leaders of the VDI delegation, Hon. Dauda explained that her body was introduced by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, to collect revenue from MATAN members, especially those in the informal sector, using verified system technology.
The visitors appealed to the Speaker for assistance to promote their activities as well as provision of office space and training for their agents in the State.