The Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR), Honourable Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, has raised the alarm over the possible failure of the Tax Identity Number (TIN) project for which billions of taxpayers’ money have been invested.
He said recent happenings in the team handling the TIN project called for concern and therefore urged President Goodluck Jonathan to put all other things on hold and allow the acting chairman and the project team to deliver the project before being disbanded.
Thomas warned that the country risked losing billions of taxpayers’ money already invested if the present team was tinkered with by bringing in persons outside the group already in place.
The DBIR boss expressed his fear in a mail he sent to members of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) which was obtained from a source in JTB by Tribune Business, after a key member of the team was removed from the project.
The mail read in part “I have read all your comments on the movement of Chinedu, but I have not seen any comments relating to the impact this will have on TIN Project. Let me give a quick recap. Few months ago, the Chairman of JTB left the scene. Today, Chinedu is out. When the chairman of JTB left, we had an acting chairman who understood the dreams and aspirations of the outgone chairman as it relates to the TIN project and other reform agenda.
“As you are aware, there are advertorials already for the recruitment of a new chairman. My fear is that, assuming the recruitment does not favour the acting chairman, be rest assured, we will run into a managerial succession crisis which can be avoided by giving the acting chairman time to complete the reforms and clear the table for the incoming chairman. Please think and let us act to save the billions of taxpayers’ money so far expended by taking up a voice against unnecessary movements.”
Contacted on phone to explain his apprehension, Thomas said, as the Chairman of the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue and by extension, Delta State, he is very much interested and involved in the TIN project because the state, under his tenure, had invested about N100million, and lots of time and resources.
He disclosed that it was these investments that qualified Delta State as one of the six pilot states in the country for the TIN Project, emphasising that having made such a huge investment, it was expected of him not to fold his arms such that the efforts put in the past few years become wasted.
“We agree that the exit of the previous chairman was as a result of issues related to tenure timing. What about the movement of Chinedu? What about the rush for a new chairman? For God’s sake, we have an acting chairman who has been part of this project and understands it. Considering the special place this project occupies, it is sufficient for the president to put all other things on hold and allow the acting chairman and the project team to deliver the project before being disbanded, otherwise, we will risk losing billions of taxpayers’ money, Thomas said.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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