The drive by the Governor Charles Soludo -led Anambra govt to embark on “operation Show your receipts ” by traders in all the markets across the state, an exercise aimed at ensuring all govt revenues went directly into Anambra state govt accounts to boast,improve and enhance the internally generated revenue, IGR, base of the state , went into full swing on 25th of April, 2023 as promised by Mr Governor.

IGR remains the only panacea to infrastructural development and funding of public services. It is the life wire of any govt that plans to be successful not only for the private sector but also for the public sector.

The increasing cost of running govt coupled with dwindling revenues has left govt with the need to evolve strategies to improve, expand and sustain the revenue base of the state.

As a result of the operation Show your receipts drive, last Tuesday ,Officials of the enforcement team of Anambra state Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) led by the tireless Dr Chris Madubuko, one of the members of the recently inaugurated state board of internal revenue in charge of operations , stormed one of the various markets in the state to re-sensitize and also demand proof of payment of the required levies from traders in Ofu Obi market in Nnewi.

Every trader was expected to show evidence of compliance with payment of levies to the govt. The essence was to ensure that traders paid their levies directly to govt and not to non state actors who have constituted themselves into revenue agents.

All payments are to be made directly through any commercial bank or Govt designated POS using Anambra state identity number (ASIN). There is no provision for direct cash payment. This is the only way to reduce and block revenue loopholes and leakages and also enhance revenues from the markets. Those who couldn’t show evidence of payment of the required levies had their shop(s) locked up and sealed by the enforcement team who came well prepared.

So far so good , the exercise has been a success and most the traders were happy with this drive by govt as they acknowledged it was very convenient for them and showed that the govt of Prof Charles Soludo meant business and was accountable.

The operation will continue across all the markets in the state.

Govt is calling on all traders in the state who are yet to comply with their payments to do so voluntarily via the official channels provided before the arrival of the enforcement team to their locations to avoid embarrassment.

Maazi Chinedu Nzeribe