Ex-Spring Bank MD heads Ebonyi revenue generation board

Ebonyi state governor David Umahi has sworn-in former Managing Director of the defunct Spring Bank Mr Mike Chukwu as the state Chairman of Internal Revenue Board.

Members of the board including former governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party in 2011 and 2015 general elections Dr. Austin Nweze, former Commissioner for Finance, Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chief Jonah Egba, among others were also inaugurated.

Addressing the chairman and the entire board members at the exco chambers government Hhuse Abakaliki, Umahi said they have been given three months to reposition the board and begin to generate money for the state.

“What we expect you to do is to come in, clean the system and increase the revenue and take 5% of the revenue to run the revenue board, revenue management and their appeal.

“The truth of the matter is that the lean resources of the state cannot pay the salaries and allowances of these hefty men and women.

“And so, it is like a social contract. We are not doing you any favour, it is not a political appointment. We are choosing our intellectuals to assist us in this nagging problem of our revenue collection. We remain the least in the entire federation and it shouldn’t be.

“The quarry alone, the lead and zinc should give us what we are looking for. So, if you focus, you will see the benefit of it. If anybody thinks that it is a political patronage, it is not true.

“Before the little money comes, the one that comes from Abuja, it is already spent. So, I’m appealing that this is an opportunity for us to work”, he said.

Responding, the revenue chairman Mr Chukwu, younger brother to former Minister of Health Professor Austin Chukwu assured that they would not betray the confidence reposed in them.

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