By Isaac Kertyo
The Chairman, Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Hon Joseph Kwaghgba, has clarified that the service has no statutory responsibility to fund government agencies in the state.
BIRS Helmsman, made the clarification in response to remarks made by the General Manager, Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency, Hon Anta Igbaato, that BIRS allegedly collected sanitation levies from Makurdi Modern Market and that the agency should be responsible for evacuation of refuse from the said market.
Briefing Journalists in Makurdi, Kwaghgba, admonished other agencies of government linked to the collection duty to be aware of the requirements and avoid actions that could bring controversy.
According to the Chairman, the State Budget Office, the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Accountant General have the responsibility to monitor the process and ensure proper releases of funds while BIRS collects and remits revenues as required.
He explained that BIRS only intervened to save public interest aimed at preserving public safety and promotion of public health in the state, stressing that the concern for public good made his agency to listen to outcry on the poor sanitary condition in the market when BENSESA appeared helpless in addressing the situation.
Hon Kwaghgba, admonished the BENSESA leadership to be alive to its responsibility and not abandon it for BIRS. He emphasized that the decision to intervene was discretionary but not mandatory.
The Chairman, further, implored BENSESA, to kindly liaise with other agencies such as, Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General to enable it access statutory finances.