By Ovat Abeng
Anambra Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo has urged residents in the state to make tax payment a civil responsibility to developed the state economic.
Soludo gave the appeal while speaking at the closing ceremony of the long week maiden edition of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Schools Tax Competition (ASTC), organised for all Private Secondary Schools in the state.
The governor, who was represented at the ceremony by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, assure the people that the tax money will be used judiciously to develop and actualized his administrative vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria.
The governor noted that the competition underlines the importance of financial literacy and the role young minds play in shaping the economy.
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He said the AIRS Schools Tax Quiz competition is not just a contest but an educational platform that nurtures a crucial cultural legacy and empowers young minds with knowledge about taxation, finance and economics.
He said the government under his leadership will continue to invest in the education and empowerment of the youth so that they can become responsible citizens who contribute to the well-being of the society.
While commending the organisers of the competition, especially, his Senior Special Adviser on IGR-TECHNICAL, Ojeka Amara-Kute, for the initiative, the governor, also urged the students and other participants to extend what they have learned from the programme to their parents and neighbours in their various homes and communities.
Earlier, in his remark, the Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Chief Greg Ezilo, said the Revenue agency under his watch will continue engage all relevant stakeholders including the schools on the importance of paying tax through awareness campaign.
He stressed that wilth the used of the four-pilars of the State AIRS, which includes; Technology, continues awareness campaign, revenue expansion and gab bridges, the Revenue Generating body in no distance time will begins to generate 10 billion naira every month to the State Government purse.
Ezilo commended Governor Soludo for his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra, particularly in the area of infrastructural development, stating that the governor’s proactive leadership is positioning Anambra as a model for other states in Nigeria.
On her part, the convener and the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on IGR-TECHNICAL, Amara-Kute, thanked the governor for ensuring the success of the event, adding that the competition will be holding annually to keep the students informed about the importance of tax payment to nation’s development.
It was gathered that the ceremony that took place at the SSG conference hall, government house Awka on Thursday with the Theme; increasing tax awareness in tomorrow’s leaders’ saw Lady Hannah International School Awada-Onitsha as the winner of this year 2024 edition, Grace Court International School second position while Maris Comprehensive College came third.
The winning schools went home with various items including cash prizes and trophies.