The Edo State Government has banned the direct collection of revenue in cash.
DAILY POST reports that the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Umar Ikhilor disclosed the directive in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday.
Ikhilor, who reiterated the ban on unlicensed agents and touts from revenue collection across the state, disclosed that security agents have been put on alert.
He said any person or group of persons that violates the order would be made to face the full wrath of the laws.
He added that the decision by the State Government to only recognize the State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) licensed agents was to ensure the protection of the citizenry from any form of extortion as well as safeguard revenue collection processes from any leakage.
Ikhilor added that the state government resolved that the system of revenue collection shall solely be predicated on the existing template developed by the EIRS in conjunction with the Local Government Councils and the various associations in the state.
“The Edo State Government wishes to recall the earlier ban on unlicensed agents and touts from revenue collection across the state.
“The direction, which only recognized Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) licensed agents, was to ensure the protection of the citizenry from any form of extortion as well as safeguard state revenue collection processes from any leakage.
“Following from the foregoing and for purposes of emphasis, Edo State Government has fully resolved that the system of revenue collection in the state shall solely be predicated on the existing template developed by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) in conjunction with the Local Government Councils and the various associations in the state.
“On the strength of the above, the state government has sternly placed a serious ban on direct cash collection in respect of revenue collection in the state.
“Security agents have been put on alert and any person or group who decides to flout this directive would be held accountable,” he stated.