Delta Revenue Board to partner ICAN

The Chairman of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Mr. Joel-Onowakpo Thomassays the board would work closely with the Institute of Chartered Accountantsof Nigeria, ICAN, in a bid to improve the state internally generated revenue.

He madethe disclosure when he played host to the 47th ICAN President, Prof. FrancisOjaide at the board cooperate headquarters in Warri, Delta State.

Mr.Joel-Onowakpo noted that accountants and auditors are better placed to adviseclients on best practices “because they have in-depth information about them”.According to him, tax evasion can be eliminated if accountants do the rightthing without compromising accountability and transparency.

Heexplained that the ongoing reform introduced by the board is meant toaccelerate the state IGR in view of the dwindling oil revenue.

The ICANPresident, Prof. Ojaide commended the board for its tax policies, urgingcitizens to pay their taxes “as no government thrives without taxation”.  He added, “government has to augmentfederal revenue because infrastructure cannot be developed without taxation.Tax is like pulling resources together to develop infrastructure and provideservices for everybody”.

The ICANboss advised the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue not to relent on itsintensive sensitization campaign aimed at educating the public on its agenda,just as he quipped that tax is not a punitive measure but a means to raise fundfor development. He declared that the institute will descend heavily on anymember found to be aiding and abetting tax defaulters, stressing that taxpayment is the social responsibility of citizens.

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