Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State

By Jethro Ibileke 

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has banned the collection of revenue in cash by all agents licensed by the State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS).

It would be recalled that the immediate past administration of Mr Godwin Obaseki had instituted the electronic collection of all revenues.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Musa Umar Ikhilor, stated this in a statement on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the decision by the State Government to only recognize the State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) licensed Agents, was to ensure the protection of the citizenry from any form of extortion as well as safeguard State revenue collection processes from any leakage.

The SSG also added that the State Government resolved that the System of revenue collection shall solely be predicated on the existing template developed by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) in conjunction with the Local Government Councils and the various Associations in the State.

“The Edo State Government wishes to recall the earlier ban on unlicensed agents and touts from revenue collection across the State.

“The direction, which only recognized Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) licensed Agents, was to ensure the protection of the citizenry from any form of extortion as well as safeguard State revenue collection processes from any leakage.

“Following from the foregoing and for purposes of emphasis, the Edo State Government has fully resolved that the System of revenue collection in the State shall solely be predicated on the existing template developed by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) in conjunction with the Local Government Councils and the various Associations in the State.

“On the strength of the above, the State Government has sternly placed a serious ban on direct cash collection in respect of revenue collection in the State. Security Agents have been put on alert and any person or group who decides to flout this directive would be held accountable,” he stated.

The SSG He also reiterated the ban on unlicensed agents and touts from collecting revenue across the State.

He, therefore, warned that security agents have been put on alert to apprehend any person or group of persons that violated the order and made to face the full wrath of the laws.