Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has inaugurated a committee to carry out a comprehensive review of tax policies, rates, levies, and fees under the control of the state.

The committee was inaugurated, in the wake of public outcry over alleged multiple and over taxation in the state.

The nine-member committee had the state Solicitor-General, Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, as Chairman, with the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Revenue Mobilisation, Adenike Okebu; the Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Enugu State chapter, Ben Asogwa and Chairman, State Market Association, Chief Chinwuba Igwesi, as members.

 Others included the Head of Legal, Enugu State Inland Revenue Service, Ngozi Ezema; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Markets, Chinedu Mbah; 1st Deputy President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe.

 The rest were the Deputy Local Government Chairman and representative of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Enugu State, Paul Okwo; and representative of the civil society, Crownwell Chibuzo.

The committee had two weeks to carry out its assignment and hand in its report.

It was mandated to benchmark Enugu State’s revenue practices against Lagos, Abuja, and other South-East states as they relate to Land Use Charge and Certificate of Occupancy fees.

 Others are market levies and stall rents, business premises registration, signage and advertisement fees, among others.

 It is expected to recommend reforms to improve compliance, fairness, transparency, and revenue efficiency.

 Inaugurating the committee at the Government House, Enugu, on Friday, Mr Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said that the committee was initiated in response to various public complaints relating to taxes and state-controlled revenue heads.

 He also said that the committee’s terms of reference included to “review existing harmonisation/consolidation laws and other revenue-related laws in Enugu State and review the implementation of such laws and their impact.” 

The governor said they were to identify and evaluate all revenue heads under the control of Enugu State (excluding federally administered taxes, such as VAT and Stamp Duties), all areas of duplication and multiple taxation across the state, including the local government.

 According to him, the committee will examine the impact of the expansion of the tax bracket and issues of a culture of non-tax payment; and assess the fairness, transparency, and efficiency of current tax rates and collection processes in the state.

 He directed the committee to ensure proper stakeholder engagement through surveys and interviews with property owners, market traders, council chairmen and revenue officers, civil society organisations, and business owners, among others.

 Providing more insight into the state’s revenue mobilisation reforms, the governor said his administration, upon assumption of office, took determined steps to move revenue collection from “a fragmented silos model to a unified, data-driven, and performance-oriented revenue ecosystem. One of the most decisive reforms we undertook was the complete stoppage of cash collection across all MDAs. This was not merely a procedural change. It was a philosophical shift toward transparency and traceability.

 “Today in Enugu State, all payments are now routed through digital platforms, ensuring real-time monitoring and eliminating leakages. This move has drastically reduced opportunities for fraud and enhanced public confidence in our systems.’’ 

He also said that the government had built the faith of the people by ensuring that every revenue collected was deployed to their service.

 In a remark, the chairman of the committee said that setting up the committee further underscored the governor’s place as a listening leader, who cared about the concerns of the people.

 He thanked Mr Mbah for finding them worthy of undertaking the onerous task, assuring him that members would justify the confidence reposed in them.

(NAN)