Soludo starts with N514b tax collection to cushion N109b Obiano debt
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Charles Soludo is starting from the scratch with N513.9 billion tax collection as Willie Obiano amassed N109 billion debt for Anambra after squandering N75 billion Peter Obi saved up in the treasury before he left Governor’s Office in 2014.
Obi was Governor for eight years from 2016. Obiano succeeded him in 2014 and also served eight years until he handed over to Soludo on 17 March 2022.
Anambra is fortunate to have Soludo, a professor of economics with the pedigree of a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor among his resume.
He is widely expected to replicate and improve on the feat of Obi who managed the state’s economy so well he did not borrow a kobo.
Obi said on 22 March that the $156 million he saved up for Anambra in denominated bonds would be worth about $200 million today if they are still intact in banks.
He repeated the clarification a few hours after Soludo announced on Arise TV the same day that he inherited N109 billion debt from Obiano. He said he met only “about N300 to N400 million” in the treasury
The scale of Obiano’s waste and alleged fraud led the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest him on 17 March.
He was released on 23 March after he fulfilled his bail conditions, but the graft buster withheld his passport as part of the conditions.
Soludo has begun to try turn things around, with Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) announcing the enforcement from 1 April of payment of N513.9 billion owed by 2.1 million taxpayers comprising businesses and individuals.
Former AIRS Chairman David Nzekwu had confirmed that the figures are captured in a database under the Anambra Social Service Identity (ANSSID) number.
New AIRS Chairman Richard Madiebo announced the tax collection in a statement issued by Deputy Director/Head, Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team, Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Madiebo said the enforcement would traverse social bills, including signages and waste management.
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Collectable bill
“We have generated a total collectable bill of N513.9 billion as of January 2022 against 2.1 million taxpayers in the state.
“This means that if my successor can ensure payment of this bill by indebted individuals, and they begin to make payment, the government will have a lot of money,’’ Nzekwu said in the twilight of his tenure last week.
Taking up the challenge, Madiebo on 29 March urged Anambra residents to check the ANSSID portal for their tax status and proceed to filing and payment.
He said debtors should go to the nearest commercial bank with their ANSSID number to pay their taxes and/or levies.
His words: “The enforcement team from AIRS will be enforcing payment of taxes and levies, including Business Premises Permit, Waste Management (ASWAMA), Signage (ANSAA) and fire service compliance.
“Anambra residents are advised by this announcement to check their ANSSID status to confirm if they have paid. They can visit any commercial bank of their choice using their ANSSID number to pay.’’
Madiebo advised taxpayers to obtain receipt for payment and also confirm the money has dropped into the treasury account before they leave the pay point.
Digitalisation of revenue collection
Soludo announced at his swearing-in ceremony on 17 March the suspension of all revenue collections for one month and banned the payment of cash to the government in motor parks, roads, and other places, per Nairametrics reporting.
He said he would immediately sign an executive order cancelling all revenue contracts, stressing that all internal revenue generation windows were suspended until digitalised and a new template against leakages is created
He appointed Madiebo as AIRS Executive Chairman last week.
