By Vincent Ujumadu
The Anambra State Government says it will embark on extensive tax education for residents as part of efforts to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the state.
The initiative will be implemented by the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation in collaboration with the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS).
Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed this during a visit to the Chairman of AIRS, Mr. Ikeazor Okonkwo, at the Revenue House in Awka.
Mefor said the exercise would focus on improving tax compliance through public enlightenment rather than immediate enforcement.
“It has become very necessary to strengthen you, given the fact that people don’t like paying taxes. So, instead of starting with enforcement, we should first talk to the people and persuade them before enforcement,” he said.
He noted that many residents, particularly in rural and informal sectors, lack adequate understanding of taxation and its importance to government revenue.
“Many people in the informal sector have a small economy. They need to be taught why their tax, no matter how small, is important to help the governor deliver major projects and policies that will turn Anambra into a smart megacity,” he added.
The commissioner also proposed a broad media campaign involving both ministries and AIRS personnel to drive tax awareness across communities.
He said the government’s ongoing development projects under Governor Chukwuma Soludo demonstrate the need for increased revenue mobilisation.
Responding, the AIRS Chairman, Mr. Ikeazor Okonkwo, said improving tax compliance would require a balanced approach combining enforcement and public sensitisation.
He stressed that the agency would not introduce new taxes or increase existing rates, but would focus on implementing current tax laws, including the Nigerian Tax Act 2025.
“For us to get the kind of money required to execute the projects the governor has put in place, people need to pay their taxes,” Okonkwo said.
