…Says It Would Not Make Mistake of Past Administration

Following the dwindling revenue from taxes, the Delta state government has began to woo back big investors like Shell and other investors that have left the state due to unfriendly environment, begging them to come back.

Sir Monday Oyema, Delta state board of internal revenue boss.

The state government, assured both old and new investors of the commitment of the current administration in providing an enabling environment for safe business.

Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, Sir Monday Onyema, made the appeal Friday as he led the board on a “know your taxpayers” tour of corporate bodies and business outfits across Warri and environs of the state.

The DBIR boss was reacting to a complaint by Godwin Ugbon, General Manager at Niger Benue Transport Company, Warri who said, “The past government made grave mistake allowing oil giant, Shell to pull out of the state, forcing closure of several other businesses and aggravating economic hardship in the state.”

Onyema said, “Even before he heard the recurring complaint from the NBTC manager, the Delta state government under Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa already appreciates the said costly error and the consequences for the economy. The DBIR is on same page with Governor in renewed commitment to provide sustainable enabling environment for existing investment and incoming ones to thrive.

“To this end, we are calling on Shell and all other corporate bodies and investors who exited Delta for this reason or any other reason at all to return back and join the state in partnership to develop the people and environment called Delta.

“Government is not resting on its oars. A lot is being done to build investors confidence. We won’t make the mistakes of the past. Delta needs private sector partnership, particularly through investments to make progress especially in these hard times. We can’t have too much of investments.”

At the end of the board management’s familiarisation visit to taxpayers which he said would continue, Onyema said, “I am satisfied with the level of cooperation from Delta taxpayers corporate bodies judging by today’s experience even in these hard times. Let me also say that our tax collectors are not demons. No individual or body should see them in that light. It is not the board’s desire to be in conflict with taxpayers.”

Corporate bodies visited include aero contractors, Hercules Offshores, Emval, NBTC and Telcom who praised the current board chairman for being the first to have personally gone to field to rub minds with corporate taxpayers.