Tag: AIRS TO DEEPEN COLLABORATION ON TAX EDUCATION TO SUPPORT SOLUDO’S MEGA PROJECTS

By Rose Oranye

The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Mr Ikeazor Nnaemeka Okonkwo, at the Revenue House, Awka, to forge a partnership on tax education and compliance.

Addressing the AIRS team, Dr Mefor said the Ministry of Information would strengthen AIRS through public education on tax compliance and enforcement. “We have come so that we strengthen you and assure you of partnership… It has become very necessary, given the fact that I know people don’t like paying taxes. So what do we do? Instead of enforcing it, we should first talk to them and add “persuasion”, then enforcement.

The commissioner noted that many Anambra residents, especially in rural and informal sectors, lack adequate knowledge of taxation.

“To be fair to our people, they have not been educated enough on the issues of tax… Many of them, particularly those you find in the informal sector, have quite a small economy. So whatever they take out of it, even N100 means a lot to them. They have to be taught why their tax, no matter how small, is important—helping the solution governor to deliver on the major projects and policies that will turn Anambra into one smart megacity.”

Dr Mefor linked tax compliance to Governor Charles Soludo’s massive projects like the five dual carriageways, new general hospitals, free education and healthcare, and five new cities, among others.

“When you see the level, the magnitude of work being done by the Solution Governor… you will see that indeed the money is needed… Anambra is not really a rich state. The fact that Soludo is doing so much with so little is born out of his intentional and transformational leadership and extremely prudent economic management.”

He proposed a “full-blown media campaign” to educate citizens, with a joint team of ministry and AIRS staff to drive it. Dr Mefor also offered AIRS the platform of his flagship radio program, ‘Ask The Commissioner’, for direct engagement with the people of Anambra on tax issues.

Responding, the AIRS Chairman, Mr Ikeazor Nnaemeka Okonkwo, welcomed the collaboration.

“We welcome this development and this understanding that we hope to create… Trying to get the citizens to comply is a two-pronged approach.”

He clarified that AIRS is not introducing new taxes or increasing rates but implementing existing laws, including the Nigerian Tax Act 2025.

“For us to get the kind of money that is required to build these building blocks that Mr Governor has excellently put together, people need to pay their taxes.”