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Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem
By Akpan David, Calabar
Lawmakers in the Cross River State House of Assembly have raised their voices to encourage government agencies and functionaries to be judicious in government expenditures as transparent in revenue collections.
They resolved that the Government should implement an online payment system to facilitate direct payments of revenues into the state’s accounts and also establish strict measures against non-compliance.
The Assembly also wants the Government to collaborate with Tax Authorities, Custom’s Department’s and Licensing bodies in it’s efforts towards comprehensive revenue collection.
These resolutions were taken at plenary following the adoption of motion sponsored by the Member representing Ikom 1 State Constituency and Minority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Samuel Neji Abang.
They directed that government agencies should publish periodic reports, detailing the revenues collected, sources of revenue collection and how the funds are being utilized.
Abang, while leading the debate on the motion emphasized that Cross River, with enormous natural resources should not be in lack.
He alleges that much of the State’s revenue ends up in private pockets due to the present system of revenue collection.
“The Government needs to reorganize the system such that all revenue will be paid directly into the bank. This will lead to increase in the State’s revenue”.He said.
The lawmaker also noted that, “The motion is timely because we are trying to move away from federal allocations and to see how we can increase our internally generated revenues to compete with other states like Lagos in terms of revenue generation”.
Also speaking, the Member representing Bekwarra State Constituency, Hon. Charles Omang Omang said the essence of seeking the digitalization of the State’s revenue system is to stop leakages, shorten ques at payment points, generate data as well as increase the State’s revenue profile.
A majority of the lawmakers while supporting the motion noted, amongst other things that, the state is long overdue for a complete overhaul of it’s revenue collection system.
The Lawmakers unanimously voted for the motion when the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem called for a voice vote. Ayambem subsequently directed the Clerk, Mr. Dominic Akiba to forward clean copies of the motion to the Executive for implementation.
