Enugu Assembly passes bill to harmonise revenue collection

An executive bill that will harmonise, consolidate, and provide administrative backing for revenue collection has been passed by the Enugu State Assembly.

The bill, which scaled through the second and third readings on Monday, was wholesomely supported by members at plenary.

Introducing the benefits of the bill, the member representing Nkanu West constituency, Mr Iloabuchi Aniagu, said the bill did not in any way seek to stop the powers of local government areas as it concerned revenue collection.

Aniagu said it would rather harmonise revenue collection to avoid multiple taxation.

Mr Anthony Nwankwo (PDP) Awgu South constituency, Mr Osita Eze, (PDP) Oji River and Mr Williams Amuka of Igbo Etiti West, supported the bill in its entirety.

The lawmakers said that revenue generation and utilisation was key in the development of the state, as the administration of tax would be strictly the business of a singular agency thereby reducing collection fraud.

They noted that the bill was a game changer for the state as Enugu had continued to align itself with the best global practices.

Among the benefits inherent in the bill was the proposed provision of residency cards for all residing in the state between the ages of 16 and above.