ABIA STATE GOVT TO SET-UP UNIFIED TAX TASKFORCE

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government is to inaugurate a Unified Taskforce to end double taxation and reduce the activities of touts in the state .

To this end, a retreat would be organized in Aba for proposed officials of the unified force ahead of their inauguration next week for efficient service delivery.

This was part of resolutions of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Briefing journalists at the Government House Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information and Culture in the state, Prince Okey Kanu, hinted that the members of the Unified Taskorce would be absorbed from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the local government councils in the metropolis.

Prince Kanu said with the upcoming unified taskforce, touting and unnecessary harassment of citizens would be over in the state.

Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the Unified Taskforce is divided into 6 zones with Umuahia having 2 while Aba has 4 zones.

He stressed that the taskforce would have coordinators with the responsibilities of ensuring that the activities of the taskforce were in tandem with the mandate given it.

Mr. Ekeoma noted that the retreat would offer officials the opportunity to know their line of duties when inaugurated.

On the ongoing first edition of the Governor’s Unity Games for secondary schools in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information and Culture further announced that a partnership between the State government and some foreign based talent scouts was already in progress.

According to the Commissioner, the partnership will lead to an establishment of an International Sports College in Abia.

This is to provide opportunities for the young talents in the various sports activities to express themselves even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU