AIRS EMBARKS ON ENUMERATION OF MARKET TRADERS AND PAYMENT THROUGH MARKET STORM STRATEGY

By Our Reporter

Government of Anambra State through the state Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, has commenced the mega Market traders enumeration and payment.

The operation which is tagged *Market Storm* was led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on IGR and Digital Transformation, Mr. Isaac Chimereze Okoro who represented the Chairman of the Service, Mr. Richard Madiebo.

The mega enumeration which started with Onitsha Main Market was conducted by over 100 AIRS staff who had been trained for the operation.

A crucial meeting between the state government revenue officials and the market management executive led by Chief Innocent Ikechukwu Ezeoha, heralded the exercise.

Chief Ezeoha said that the traders are willing to support the state government in achieving it's objectives and promised to ensure that traders in the market comply with the new government tax and revenue reforms.

He further called on the state Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to extend his kindness to the market which has been ravaged by the current flood, adding that half of the Zone 3 part of the market has been claimed by flood thereby displacing traders in that location.

The SSA to the Governor on IGR and Digital Transformation, Mr Isaac Okorie thanked the traders and the market executive as they moved round the market to observe the exercise.

Speaking to the the traders, he explained the benefit of the exercise to the traders and Ndi Anambra, stressing that the Governor has given a directive about the mode of payment which eliminates paying cash to anyone except in the bank.

While empathising with the traders and market executives after visiting the flood site, he also explained that the state has partnered with many agent banking institutions to realize payment options throughout the state and the market thereby making it seamless and easy for people to make payment for their taxes and levies anyday and at any location.

The Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Eloka Maduekwe was also in attendance and explained the plans of the ministry of Commerce and Industry towards the market, encouraging the traders to pay their taxes and other associated revenue.

Others who attended the storm include Anambra Zonal Tax Authority, Mrs. Franca Ekpechi,

Head, Non-Tax AiRS, Mr. Onyeka Chukwudi, Head, Autonomous Transition, Mrs Ann Nwagwu,  and among others.

The Market Mega Storm  continues this week at the same location.