STOP ILLEGAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS, TOR-TIV URGES BIRS. (PHOTO).

 STOP ILLEGAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS, TOR-TIV URGES BIRS

14th October, 2024    

The Paramount ruler of the Tiv nation, Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Professor James Ortese Ayatse has urged the Chairman, Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) to apply relevant laws  to put to end the menace of illegal check points and the extortion of farmers and buyers in markets across the state.

Tor Tiv also distanced himself from the alleged involvement of some traditional rulers in the persistent illegal check points and the frivolous collection of revenue in markets emphasizing that Tiv Area Traditional Council  has not mandated any traditional ruler to interfere in revenue collection which is the sole responsibility of BIRS.

A statement by the Special Assistant to the Tor Tiv on Media and ICT Freddie Adamgbe quoted the Tor Tiv as saying the  BIRS is the only agency shouldered with the responsibility to collect revenue for the state government, insisting that any traditional ruler caught perpetrating this criminality is on his own.

According to the statement, Professor Ayatse, who spoke in his palace in Gboko when the BIRS Acting Chairman, Mr Sunday Odagba and the management team paid him a courtesy visit, regretted that illegal collection of revenue and extortion of buyers and sellers has discouraged potential traders from patronizing farm produce and other businesses in Benue and there is the urgent need to address it.

The Chairman Benue State Council of Traditional Rulers, however, appealed to the BIRS Chairman to collect tax with a human face bearing in mind that the poor Benue masses are the ones paying taxes amidst hardship and he assured him of the support of the traditional institution to perform his task successfully even as he was appointed at a difficult time.

Earlier in his speech, Mr Odagba informed the Tor Tiv that it was imperative to seek collaboration with the traditional institution in his task of collecting revenue for the state government since  they were critical stakeholders who live with their subjects in communities.

The tax  Chief expressed sadness that upon assumption of office, he stumbled on the challenge of illegal check points and extortion of money from traders and farmers in the name of revenue collection, which according to him caused  many to stop patronizing the state.

The BIRS boss pointed out that perpetrators of the menace were unfortunately some traditional rulers hence his appeal to the Tor Tiv to intervene so as to free the Benue roads and markets to boost the economy of the state.