The members of Citizens Accountability Assembly (CAA), Ebonyi State, whose functions are to give collective voice to citizens and engage government to demand accountability have advocated for automated Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Speaking during the Democracy Clinic held at the Unity FM hall, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, the resource person, Barr. Emma Onwe took participants through the various stages in budget preparation and implementation at the workshop, noted that once the IGR system is automated, it will help to open up the system, adding that accountability and transparency will be enhanced.
He posited that there is need to sensitize the tax payers to form consumers protection groups and other pressure groups, stressing that with that they can engage government to actually automate the state IGR so that those in businesses can determine taxes collected on such business. Onwe hinted that once the IGR is automated, multiple taxation will be avoided.
In his comment, Okezie Kelechukwu applauded NED and Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights, CCIDESOR for choosing Ebonyi for the engagement. He stressed that the CAA is created to serve as a platform that will galvanize citizens and multi-stakeholder groups engagement with the government on accountability and transparency through the application of accountability instruments for development.
In his contribution, the Programs Director of CCIDESOR, Barr. Chidi Igwe urged the citizens of Ebonyi state to find a good platform that is not confrontational to engage the government for the desired buy-in into the accountability and transparency operation. He charged the participants to put to use what was learned, especially those strategies that will drive result for development.
