Okowa felicitates with Nwaoboshi, Dein of Agbor, calls for improved IGR

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has congratulated the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, as he clocks 63 on June 29 and the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I, as he clocks 43 on Monday.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika,made available to OpenLife,  the governor described Nwaoboshi who chairs the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, as “a proud son of Delta and a fighter of the Anioma cause.”

He said that Nwaoboshi’s contributions to nation-building at the Red Chamber, the Niger Delta and Delta State, remained incontrovertible.

The governor noted that Nwaoboshi’s rise to fame was not surprising given his political pedigree and invaluable contributions in several capacities, which culminated in his serving as a two-time Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate you my brother, the distinguished Senator, Chief Peter Onyelukachukwu Nwaoboshi, on the occasion of your 63rd birth anniversary.

“I join your family, friends and well-wishers to thank Almighty God for your life and to pray that He continues to bless you with robust health and imbue you with His continued guidance, protection and enduring provision for the service of the people of Anioma nation, Delta and Nigeria,” he said.

On the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikenchuku Keagborekuzi I, the governor said that the Dein has provided purposeful, courageous and tenacious leadership for the Agbor people over the years and deserves to be celebrated on his new age.

He commended the monarch for making Agbor kingdom peaceful and investor-friendly since he ascended the throne of his forefathers.

He joins the people of Ika nation, particularly the Agbor people, in celebrating the monarch, and prayed that he would remain in good health, wisdom and strength to continue ruling the people of his kingdom.

He extolled the monarch for his contributions to the issues of unemployment, social deviance and value-orientation among youths, which spurred him to establish Agbor Youth Learning, Development and Empowerment Centre.

Okowa added that His Majesty also initiated cultural and traditional reforms to enhance the living conditions of the people of the kingdom, and ensured appropriate recognition and strategic relevance in the ever-important traditional institution in our society.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I warmly felicitate with Obi Ikenchukwu I, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom on the ocassion of his 43rd birth anniversary.

“We pray that the Almighty God will continue to give you good health and wisdom to pilot the traditional affairs of your kingdom and offer valuable contributions to the development of our dear Delta State and Nigeria,” he stated.

Meanwhile, in a bid to meet the infrastructural drive of the government, the Delta State Internal Revenue Service is currently intensifying effort towards ensuring a hitch-free implementation of the recently amended Delta State Internal Revenue Service Law 2020 with regards to the harmonized fees/levies payable by businesses in the petroleum down-stream sector in the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders parley in Warri, Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service, Sir Monday Onyeme, informed representatives of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, NUPENG, as well as those of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers, PTD, that government would continue to partner with them as critical stakeholders in the sector to achieve an expanded and more coordinated revenue base for the state.

According to Sir Onyeme, the interactive session became necessary to engage critical stakeholders whose input would go a long way in smoothening what he termed “the rough” edges in the collection of fees and taxes due to the state government.

The revenue service chairman further assured the union representatives that the amended Delta State Internal Revenue Service Law 2020 had eliminated the issue of multiple demand notices hitherto being served on members of the union by different ministries, departments and agencies of government.

He stressed that in the amended law the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue would henceforth be known as the Delta State Internal Revenue Service and would be the sole authority on issues of taxation in Delta State.

Speaking in the same vein, Board member representing Delta Central, Hon. Kelly Oghenekevwe, revealed that as part of the process of consultations, similar engagements would be held with other ancillary unions in the oil and gas sector.

Mr. Paul Itawansa, former Director of Operations in the board, emphasised that a central billing system became necessary to avoid multiple taxation, stressing that, going forward, any demand notice for payment of fees/levies not authorised by the Chairman of the Revenue Service should be regarded as fake and fraudulent.

Earlier, leader of the team and National Public Relations Officer of NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojobor, commended the efforts of the Revenue Service in seeking to follow the path of dialogue, stating that it showed the human face of the Okowa-led Administration.

He therefore requested a copy of the enabling law, which was promptly made available, to enable the union study it for a better understanding of their role and obligations under the new law.