‘Incompetence’: Tiv youth seek sack of Benue revenue board chair

The Tiv Youth Organisations (TYO) Ushongo local government chapter has called for the removal of the chairman of Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mr. Andrew Ayabam, over alleged incompetence.

A press statement signed by president of TYO, Ushongo local government chapter, Mr. Orduen Aernan, noted that the BIRS boss,Mr. Ayabam since his appointment has not been able to diversify the revenue base of the state but has largely relied on collection of the statutory Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and other already established revenue sources.

The group also alleged that Mr. Ayabam as BIRS chairman “is visibly using the office to promote and coordinate his personal interests and has been deliberately driving the Service to the unpopular direction just to elicit the anger of the electorate against the present administration.”

It further accused Mr Ayabam of political double-standing during the last general elections, noting that his actions or inactions had proven that he was not ready to do the job this time around.

The group called on Ayabam to therefore take the path of honour by resigning his appointment.

“We note with sadness that on assumption of office , Mr. Ayabam sacked over 2000 consultants most of whom had engaged it’s members and in the process rendered them jobless.

“Having rendered over 5,000 of our members jobless, TYO in Ushongo has unanimously as a matter of urgency urge Samuel Ortom as a listening governor who cares about the welfare of his people to without any delays remove Ayabam and replace him with a competent person who understands the meaning and need of welfarism in a democratic governance.

“It is our position, that Mr. Ayabam as BIRS chairman, is visibly using the office to promote and coordinate his personal interests and has been deliberately driving the Service to the unpopular direction just to enquire the anger of the electorate against the present administration.

“As a last resort,  Ushongo LG TYO chapter shall lead and mobilise membership across Tiv land which is pegged at over one million on a peaceful demonstration to press for our demand that the BIRS chairman who has proven to be the enemy of Tiv youth by his actions  is removed from office,” the statement read in part.

When contacted, the media officer of BIRS, Mr Terkura Ati, said he does not speak for the chairman, Mr Andrew Ayabam but for the board.

However, at the time of filing this report all efforts made to reach the BIRS chairman were not successful as all his phones were switched off.