The Honourable Commissioner for Mines and Solid Minerals, Imo State, Hon. Dr. Elias Martins Emedom paid a working visit to the the IMO State Board of Internal Revenue Services, Owerri on 22nd February 2022 to familiarise and interface with them on how the BIR will partner with his ministry in Revenue generation matters and to plug all avenues through which revenue acruable to government is lost.
The Honourable Commissioner and his team were received by the Director of operations of the Imo State Internal Revenue Services, Dr. Tony Nkemakolam. In his welcome address to the Honourable Commissioner and his team, Dr. Tony Nkemakolam said that he was full of appreciation with the Ministry at this visit as this will enable him explain to the team the workings of the Imo State Internal Revenue Services. He further congratulated the Honourable Commissioner on his appointment saying His visit to his office was indeed very critical to the desired synergy between the Ministry of Mines And Solid Minerals and the Imo State Internal Revenue Services. He added that the Honourable Commissioner was the third in line amongst the commissioners who had visited the office of the State Internal Revenue Services since the swearing into office of the Imo State Honourable Commissioners on 20th. December, 2021.
He thereafter gave explanation on all the demands of the Ministry as it relates to effort at preserving government revenue, increase revenue generation, plug all avenues through which government revenue is lost. He said currently there are four Subheads on which the Ministry could collect revenue on mining activities and Solid Minerals exploration in the State, but more Subheads needed to be created to capture other mining activities as provided in the Ministry,s Schedule of Duties and Ministerial Responsibilities as all matters of Mines And Solid Minerals exploration in the State and involved Stakeholders are exclusively domiciled in the Ministry of Mines And Solid Minerals in the State.
He thereafter urged the Ministry to double her effort in revenue generation and actualize her mandate as provided in the Ministry's Schedule of Duties and Ministerial Responsibilities. He advised that more Subheads needed to be created to capture all the responsibilities of the Ministry as provided by government.
The Honourable Commissioner in his response Informed Dr.Nkemakolam that their visit to the States,s Revenue Agency is to explore ways of collaboration between his Ministry and the Board of Internal Revenue. He stressed that effort should be made by all concerned to ensure that all mines related payments are made into the Imo State Treasury Single Account at any commercial bank using the appropriate Code as provided for specific mines related taxes. He went further to call on all who make payment on mining activities to visit the office of the Ministry of Mines And Solid Minerals Imo State with their bank teller which serves as evidence of payment to obtain receipt of payment from the accounts section of the Ministry. No one is authorised to collect revenue in cash on behalf of the Ministry.
All payments in relation to taxes on mining activities are made to the State,s Treasury Single Account, TSA in any commercial bank.
The Commissioner also stressed that in as much as his Ministry is out to generate revenue they are also concerned that Mining in the State should be done in such a way that it would not destroy the State’s ecosystem as this may lead to environmental harzards, hence the ministry are poised to monitoring all mining activities going on the State in conjunction with related agencies.
Contributing , the Director of Operations at the States Internal Revenue Services, Dr. Tony Nkemakolam advised that there shall always be an updated list of miners operating in the states as well as the mine sites. The Ministry should have the miners identify with her in carrying out their mining activities as this will create the desired harmony between the Ministry and all stakeholders in the mining industry in the State.
The Ministry on her part will henceforth hold periodic meetings with all Stakeholders involved in mining activities in the State as this will create the desired synergy amongst all concerned.
Publisher: Don Martyn L.O
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