The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) has expanded its tax awareness and sensitisation campaign with a 30-minute tax education programme on radio.

The Commissioner for Finance in the state, Linus Nkan Ph.D., while unveiling the radio programme on Monday at Revenue House, Uyo described Tax Talk Time (English) Ini Nneme Tax (Vernacular) as a novel initiative that will break new ground in tax sensitization and enlightenment on the public to inculcate voluntary tax payment.

 

Dr. Nkan explained that payment of tax which is a civic responsibility of citizens is one of the primary ways through which the government generates revenue to fund its expenditures and provide public services, adding that taxes form a critical part of the government's financial resources, which are used to build infrastructure, maintain public safety, fund healthcare and education, and support social welfare programmes.

 

“The truth is that the government cannot do well without the cooperation of the people and one of the ways citizens demonstrate support towards government is by payment of tax. That is where government raises revenue for its capital and recurrent expenditure”, he stated.

 

The Finance Commissioner, however, thanked the Executive Chairman, of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Okon Okon, for the initiative and collaboration with the Ministry of Information and the media a potent vehicle to drive the tax campaign, pointing out that although past leadership in some parts of Africa had created public mistrust among the people, the reverse is the case with the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, who is creating value for taxpayers’ money through the developmental strides across the state.

 

“This is a strategic move that we are making and it is very noble and I believe it will end us great achievement. Tax here in this part of the world, probably because of the failure of past governments I am referring to past governments in Africa, there has been mistrust between the people and government. People don’t believe in government as a result of this mistrust people abandoned their civic responsibilities which include tax payment”.

 

In his remarks the Commissioner for Information, Cmrd. Ini Ememobong, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Akparawa James Edet, described the tax education programme on radio as a mixed grill and a melting pot of ideas that will reel out content targeted at community development.

Ememobong, lauded the initiative of the programme by AKIRS especially as it reflects the A.R.I.S.E agenda, adding that the government is impressed with the finance sector of the state for initiating programmes that add value to the progress of the state.

 

The Executive Chairman, of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Okon Okon, in his welcome remarks, said Tax Talk Time is the vision of AKIRS to take tax education intentionally to the Akwa Ibom public to increase awareness on how to pay taxes and why it is important to do so.

Sir Okon noted that the programme which is produced by AKIRS in collaboration with the Ministry of Information is part of the multi-strategic sensitisation campaigns aimed at deepening tax culture that will enhance voluntary compliance among taxpayers in the State.

 

He said the radio programme will expand the Service’s channels of communication with taxpayers and provide an opportunity for instant feedback from the public through a phone-in provided for in the live discussion segment of the programme.

“Taxpayers will also have an opportunity to learn about the tax ecosystem in the state and the benefits of paying tax. The programme is broken into four radio stations in the state that will run for one year aimed at educating our tax-paying public on how they should pay their taxes and why they should pay”, he noted.

 

Sir Okon thanked the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for promoting policies that engender a business and tax-friendly environment in the state and providing tangible value for taxpayers’ money through his sterling welfarist and pro-rural policies and programmes, like the compassionate homes, grace homes, model school projects.

 

He also lauded the Ministry of Information for collaborating with AKIRS to roll out the tax sensitisation and enlightening programme and encouraged the public to join the programme on Thursdays and Fridays on Comfort F.M, Redemption F.M, Heritage F.M and Tang Sio F.M.

 

Also speaking Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, Cmrd. Amos Etuk commended the Executive Chairman, AKIRS, Sir Okon Okon, for taking the tax enlightenment campaign to another level and incorporating the idea of using local dialect to foster connection and engagement with the people during the programme.