The Governor of Cross-Rivers State, Professor Ben Ayade has inaugurated an agency saddled with responsibility of protecting those who are exempted from paying taxes.
Ayade while inaugurating the members of the agency, substantiated those who are eligible and exempted from paying taxes to the State Government’s and Federal purses.
In their terms of reference, Ayade disclosed that there are unavoidable and eligible individuals, business owners and companies who are due for payment of taxes, likewise those whose poor conditions of setting up businesses could not mandate the state government to levy taxes on them.
The Governor who bursted into tear while saddling the members of agency to their terms of reference said that he had actually come to the seat of power but he could not conscientiously achieve what he had desired to put into place.
Ayade added that before he came to power, he had planned to ensure that the Cross-Rivers State is found at the greatest height but he was emotionally disturbed and sad that he could not do as promised.
He handed over a compendium containing the list of eligible and exempted people of the state who are supposed and not supposed to pay taxes, to the Anti-Tax Agency.
Ayade charged them to ensure that those whose names have been stated in the compendium are not forced nor mandated by either State or Federal Inland Revenue Services to pay taxes.
While substantiating the reasons that triggered the inauguration of the Anti-Tax Agency, Ayade said that not all people are supposed to pay taxes, considering the pains and conditions through which the pass through before the little businesses were established.
He made mentioned of those who have to visit the farms daily before they could have what to sell or depend on, for their survival.
Ayade warned the members of agency to discharge their duties within the terms of reference, sincerity, honesty and integrity among others.
He cautioned them to refrain from acts capable of tarnishing their images and possibly render the task meaningless.
