• Inaugurates revenue, civil service boards
ON the occasion of Nigeria’s 55th independence day celebration, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed the need for sustainable unity.

In a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, Okowa expressed the hope that the country would overcome the prevailing security and economic challenges and eventually wax stronger.

The governor said despite the scourge of indigenous terrorism, political power struggle and other forms of corrupt practices, Nigeria would still be united.
“As a people, we must stand united and steadfast to confront the challenges that face our democracy and our developing economy.
Such collective effort, I believe, we must bring to bear on the unpleasant situations that confront our nation, so that the labour of our heroes past shall never be vain,” he said.

Meanwhile, Okowa has inaugurated the Boards of Internal Revenue and the Civil Service Commission, saying he wouldn’t hesitate to sanction any erring officials.
“Some civil servants are already in court because of fraud and as a politician, if you are caught, don’t run to me because that may be the last time I may want to see you,” he warned.

The governor explained that his administration took time to constitute the boards because the two agencies were critical to the success of the current government in the state.

He frowned at a situation where there is less than 20 per cent compliance level in revenue generation from the informal sector.
Okowa said that over 80 per cent of the nation’s internally generated revenue comes from the formal sector which translates to less than 20 per cent compliance level, adding that the informal sector, which constitutes over 80 per cent of the economy, had not been effectively captured in the tax net.

He decried a scenario where individuals, especially businessmen paid tax that was not commensurate with their income and assets.
Sir Monday Onyeme emerged chairman of the revenue board while Mike Edegware is Secretary and Godday Daniel as well as Solomon Ighrakpata and
Barry Gbe are members.

The civil service commission has Mrs. Nkem Okwuofu as chairman. The members include Dr. Eddy Ugbomah, Mrs. Roseline Amioku, Ifeanyi Agbeyeke and Mathew Ukey.