WE ACCOUNT FOR EVERY KOBO OF NDI ANAMBRA, SAYS SOLUDO AT ASTC FINAL
By Daniel Obagha :
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has emphasised his determination to put to use every Kobo paid as tax by Anambra people. Soludo said this at the grande finali of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) School Tax Competition (ASTC) themed: “Increasing Tax Awareness in Tomorrow’s Leaders” held on Friday at the SSG Hall, Government House, Awka
Represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Soludo emphasised that as long as Anambra people pay their tax, all the money must be accounted for.
“We are already accounting for that. No student from nursery to SS 3 is paying school fees in government schools in Anambra.
“Under two years and eight months, we have employed 8, 115 teachers and none of them is going home with less than ₦70,000 every month. Where do you think we are getting the money from? It is from the tax.”
The governor also mentioned other numerous ongoing projects of his administration that are funded by tax paid by Ndi Anambra.
“At Kwata junction, we are building a brand new Solution Funcity where people will go to relax after a day’s work. Look at what tax payers money is doing at the new government house and governor’s lodge at Aroma. And before our third anniversary in March 2025, we will move from Amawbia to the proper governor’s lodge,” he said.
Soludo also mentioned numerous road projects all over the state that are being constructed with tax payers money and urged every Anambra person to pay their tax.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman/Chief Executive of AIRS, Mr Gregory Ezeilo, said that with the speed Gov. Soludo is embarking on massive infrastructure development, the Anambra Taiwan agenda was already a completed deadline.
“At AIRS, we realised this fact that it is an agenda with a completed deadline right before the time. So we also tried to be more disruptive in our innovative processes to be there when the agenda is already completed.
“So just as the governor told me to fire from all cylinders, we are firing from grassroot development cylinder and today we have leaders of tomorrow with tax consciousness,” Ezeilo said.
The Chairman praised the students for the way and composure they detailed their points in their presentations and expressed hope that what they know about tax will become indelible in their hearts.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mrs Amara Oyeka, who organised the competition said that the idea was to encourage the private schools to pay their tax.
According to the Chief Judge of the competition, Dr Ifeoma Obieri, out of the 12 private schools that participated in the competition, only three made it to the final.
She said that Lady Hannah International School, Awada won the competition. While the second position went to Grace Court International School, Awka and Marist Comprehensive College came third.
Also in attendance at the occasion was the Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr Chris Molokwu
*Daniel is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
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