PORT HARCOURT— Governor Rotimi Amaechi has urged all eligible tax payers in Rivers State to honour their tax obligations to government as a pre-condition for goods and services from the government.

Amechi, who declared this in Port Harcourt, weekend, said for any state to live up to  its billing in the area of provision of social amenities and infrastructures, every citizen should pay relevant taxes to the government in that state.

Noting that construction of roads, provision of potable water and adequate security of life and property were part of the essential parameters used to measure the performance of any economy the world over, Governor Amaechi assured that his administration was poised to make life very bearable for the citizenry, hence the need for them to also play their part by paying their taxes promptly.

Enjoining Rivers State citizens to contribute their quota by paying their taxes, he said the resources available to the state government were limited, and hindered his administration from extending its frontiers in terms of basic infrastructure to all the nooks and crannies of the state.

His words: “We believe it is our responsibility to deliver on services but we need the support of the people.
The resources available are scarce and everybody needs to be part of the contribution not only in terms of resources but also in the area of management.”

The Governor stated that the civic responsibility of citizens and other residents of the state borders on payment of taxes and other levies.

In line with this, he advised the citizens to ensure payment of taxes, which he described as a veritable means of contributing to the process of economic development in the state.

“It is important you pay your taxes. This is your civic responsibility, which must be guarded judiciously, he said.”
On the modalities of payment, the Governor explained that taxpayers should visit any branch of the designated banks for customized bank teller.

In order to ensure accountability, Governor Amaechi advised that taxpayers must always insist in collecting electronic receipts (e-receipts) as an evidence of payment before leaving the bank’s premises.

The e-receipt, according to him, should thereafter be taken to the River State Board of Internal Revenue (RSBIR) for issuance of a government revenue receipt.

The governor, it would be recalled had presented a budget of N429 billion to the State House of Assembly for approval for 2010.

Describing it as a budget of consolidation, the governor said the amount was slightly below the N432.28
billion approved for the outgoing year.

Amaechi, who noted that details of the budget was already before the House of Assembly, said the budget would be funded from federal allocation (statutory allocation,

> 13%, VAT, etc) to the tune of  N275.50 billion; internally generated revenue, IGR,  N93.50 billion and
Rivers State government savings in 2009, N60 billion, thus totaling the N429 .0 billion.
According to him, “This shows that out of the total estimated revenue of N369 billion, Federation Account will contribute 74.66% and internally generated revenue, IGR, 25.34%.