The Abia State Government House has announced that it will carry out an enumeration of all houses in the state and collect accurate records of business outlets, with the aim of bringing more Abia residents and businesses into its tax net.
The state has stated that the policy will enable residents to access government social services, assist in the design of optimal economic policies, and also help secure the state against criminal activities.
Addressing journalists at Government House in Umuahia on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, stated that the state had set a target of N120 billion for internally generated revenue in 2025, which would involve unlocking all viable revenue streams.
He urged the people of Abia to support Governor Alex Otti’s administration by paying their taxes, and informed residents that the comprehensive data capture of houses and businesses in the state would be integrated with the Abia State Social Identification Number, ABSSIN.
The chairman of the Abia State Internal Revenue Service, Professor Udochukwu Ogbonna, explained that obtaining an accurate database of houses, vehicles, and business outlets would help protect Abia residents from criminal elements and increase revenue for the state’s tax system.
Responding to questions from journalists, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, Mr Emmanuel Okpechi, stated that all houses in the state would be included in the enumeration exercise, starting with urban areas before moving to rural areas.
He assured Abia residents that there was no need to fear the policy, as it was not intended to impose a heavy tax burden but rather to facilitate better economic planning.
