By Kamsi Anayo, Onitsha
Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA) has urged Anambra state Government to streamline the internal revenue generating process to meet up with its obligations.
President of the Chamber, Chief Kevin Obieri, called for the creation of approved revenue collection centres throughout the state for easy taxes or levies.
Obieri told our Correspondent in Onitsha on Thursday that qualified consultants should be appointed to generate and prepare data on the taxable population working with the relevant government offices.
“These consultants can take responsibility for collecting the taxes each year and getting the taxpayers to pay directly to designated bank accounts, while the commission of the consultants would be processed and paid based on their report and presentation of deposit slips for taxes paid/ deposited by the taxpayers.” Obieri said.
He urged the state government to work hard to standardise and widely publicize all the taxes and levies so that tax payers and consultants would be properly guided.
He warned that taxes should not be too high so that they can be affordable for more people to pay.
“Commercial tricycle, vehicle operators and others should equally have adequate information on approved levies and collection points, where these payments can be made with the issuance of of receipts as proof payment.
“Their union officers should also find better ways of collecting these dues from them instead of waiting on the roads and chasing them about.”
On positive waste management in the state, Obieri urged the state government to open a bidding process for private companies to invest in the disposal and management of waste currently mounting in all major cities across the state.
He advised the government to partner with companies and landlords associations to design an affordable waste disposable billing system to boost adequate waste management in the state.
According to him, developing a structured waste management system as against the present disorganised system was the immediate solution to sanitize the system, particularly in urban areas
Obieri suggested that companies would be assigned specific areas and routes to cover, stressing that such a move would ensure speedy evacuation of refuse in Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state and other areas.
He lauded the state government for the recent clearing of refuse in Onitsha and environs, but stated that neglect of waste management over the years has created a disorganised system, which needs an urgent intervention.
He mentioned some of the roads in Onitsha to be tackled immediately to include; New Market Road, Niger Street to Main Market, Modebe Avenue, Iweka Road, Ochanja- Zik Avenue, Creek Road, Porthacourt Road, and the dualisation of Onitsha-33-Otuocha among others.
“The government should partner with companies and landlords associations to design an affordable waste disposable billing system, whereby streets or locations that sign up to it can have waste services provided for these locations by specified and known contractors,” he said.
He also suggested that the state government should equally introduce a volunteer scheme where many young men and women without jobs, especially those disengaged from their illegal revenue collection activities can be coopted into the exercise and properly remunerated.
Obieri also expressed concern over the need for the state government to commence immediate rehabilitation of roads in all major cities of the state to ease the grinding gridlock constantly being experienced by the commuters on daily basis.
He pointed also that employment creation, establishment of Mass Transit system in Onitsha and Awka metropolis among others are paramount.
The ONICCIMA president equally stressed the need for the creation of bus stops and more access routes to divert traffics in Onitsha and environs”
He also called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to address the issue of failed road networks in the city and its adjourning areas.