In a move to protect citizens from extortion and ensure transparency in revenue collection, the Edo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed its ban on unlicensed agents and touts from collecting revenue across the state.
The decision, according to a statement made available by Umar Musa Ikhilor, the Secretary to the State Government, is aimed at safeguarding the state’s revenue collection processes from leakage.
The government said it has resolved that only licensed agents from the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) will be recognised, and revenue collection will strictly follow the existing template developed by EIRS in collaboration with local government councils and associations in the state.
Also, the state government has placed a ban on direct cash collection for revenue, warning that security agents will hold accountable anyone who flouts this directive.
The statement partly read: “Following from the foregoing and the purposes of emphasis, 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 Council 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.”
