The Nation Newspaper

Tag: James Ayatse

  • Illegal taxes: Benue tax board seek traditional rulers intervention

    The Acting Executive Chairman Benue Internal Revenue Services, (BIRS) Mr Terzungwe Atser has solicited the support of the traditional institution to end illegal and multiple taxes and levies in the state.

    Speaking at separate meetings with the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma at their palaces in Gboko and Otukpo, the  Executive Chairman noted that the role of traditional institution in the collection of taxes can’t be over emphasized stating that the tax authority can not achieve it’s goals without the traditional rulers.

    While briefing His Royal Majesty the Tor Tiv Prof James Ayatse, Mr. Atser stated that the agency has taken far reaching measures on critical tax administration and management which are aimed at reducing the burden on tax payers.

    He further explained that those measures which include the reviewer of new terrify , dismantle of illegal inspection point , enforcement of Joint taskforce are in line with the tax laws and are geared towards reposition the BIRS.

    Read Also: Benue and Imo travesties

    Mr. Atser however regretted that the regime of multiple or higher taxes and illegal road blocks mostly by unauthorized tax agents have adversely affected business as well as continuous dwindling of the economy of the state.

    In his response, His Royal Majesty Prof. Ayatse who commended Mr, Atser for the decision to collaborate with the traditional institution and the bold steps he has taken to bring succor to the farmers and traders in the State assured that he will ensure that he get the desired support of the traditional rulers.

    “With the dwindling economic fortunes in the country and the drastic drop in the federation allocation, Benue State government is on the right path by giving professionals responsibilities to perform.

    “I have no doubt that as a professional know tax management and administration, you will surely excel”.

    “Reports indicate so far shows that there is significant improvement in most areas that concerns the public”, he stated.

    At the Och Idoma Palace in Otukpo, Mr. Atser intimated the Paramount ruler of Idoma land,  His Royal Majesty Ochiama Idoma,  Elias I. Obekpa on the inability of the board to collect taxes at the Otukpo Central Market as result of persistent refusal of the market authorities to allow BIRS staff or agents as was the case to collect taxes.

    He also informed the Och Idoma about the plan by the tax agency to commence enforcement of motor and vehicle registration which he disclosed that attention would be focused on the traditional rulers who should take the lead.

    In his response, the Och Idoma said, “If properly harnessed, revenue from taxes could be used to run the state. I recall that during the era of Native Authorities, local chiefs were entrusted with responsibilities of collecting community taxes which effectively checked leakages and boosted government revenue at the time.”

    He also urged the Board to decisively tackle the menace of illegal and double taxation in the state.

  • Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Makurdi

    Ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Benue on Monday, security has been beefed up, the News men reports.
    Armed security personnel were seen deployed to strategic areas in Makurdi while others were seen patrolling streets in armoured tanks and vehicles as part of measures to boost up security in the state.
    The news men also reports that patrol officers with sniffer dogs were also sighted along busy streets and highways in the state capital while a military helicopter was sighted conducting aerial surveillance.
    Similarly, siren-blaring police patrol vans conveying armed security personnel decked in bullet prove vestments were seen patrolling the streets.
    Buhari is expected in Benue to condole with the people of the state over the deaths of local farmers killed by suspected herdsmen on Jan. 1 in Guma and Logo Local Government Areas.

    Read Also: Buhari’s curious comparison

    Scores of other villagers were also reported to have been killed at Okpokwu, Logo and villages in Guma since the Jan. 1 massacre.
    Part of the president’s itinerary as released by the Benue Government included a courtesy call on the fifth Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, at his Makurdi residence.
    According to the release, the president will have an interactive session with selected Benue indigenes and visit the IDP camp via helicopter.
    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fatayi Owoseni, and the command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Moses Yamu, were yet to respond to phone calls put to them by the news men as they were said to be working to firm up the security arrangements.
    However, a cross section of Makurdi residents commended security agencies for the tight security measures put in place.
    The resident hoped that the visit would tackle the mounting security and development challenges of the state.

    NAN

  • Benue not part of secessionist agitation

    Benue not part of secessionist agitation

    Benue Governor Samuel Ortom said on Monday that the state was committed to building a strong and indivisible Nigerian nation and would never support any secessionist agitation.

    Ortom, who spoke at a meeting with Benue Council of Chiefs, also restated government’s readiness to protect the rights of Nigerians resident in the state, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.

    The meeting, held in Makurdi and attended by various stakeholders and the leadership of tribal and religious groups resident in Benue, was a proactive measure against reprisal violence over skirmishes in some parts of the country.

    “Benue is not in support of any secessionist agitation and will not want mischief makers to cause violence in the state. People with such plans are advised to leave in their own interest,” he said.

    Ortom charged traditional rulers and leaders of other ethnic groups to preach the message of peace to their localities, urging them to report trouble makers to the appropriate authorities.

    In his remarks, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, commended the proactive steps of the government toward calming nerves, and expressed the Tiv Traditional Council’s readiness to support the measures.

    Also speaking, the Och’Idoma, Mr Elias Ikoyi Obekpa, said that Benue has remained the most peaceful state in the country and would strive to keep that status.

    The President of South-South residents in the state, Chief Godffery Ogboro, in a remark, said that his people were committed to the promotion of peace and unity in Nigeria.

    “We are committed to peace and unity of Nigeria; we cannot wage war against ourselves.

    ”Some of us have houses here and also married from here. We shall be the greatest losers if there is no peace,” he said.

    Chief Chuks Albert, President, Igbo Assembly, Benue State Chapter, in his speech, condemned the secessionist agenda being pursued by some sections of the Igbo community, declaring that his group was in support of one Nigeria.

    “We stand for one Nigeria; we are not part of the Igbo that want to secede by force. We thank the governor for guaranteeing our peaceful stay in Benue.

    “We have an umbrella community which is Igbo Delegate Assembly; we also have Ohaneze Ndigbo. We have all met and resolved that we belong to one Nigeria,” he said.

  • Flood: Tor Tiv Lauds FG’s prompt intervention

    Flood: Tor Tiv Lauds FG’s prompt intervention

    Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue Council of Chiefs, has commended the Federal Government for its prompt intervention toward tackling the flood sweeping through the state.

    Ayatse made the commendation on Wednesday in Makurdi, when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, visited him during his (Osinbajo) assessment tour of flooded areas in Makurdi.

    The monarch said that government’s quick response in providing relief materials had cushioned the hardship faced by victims of the disaster.

    “The gesture showed a clear demonstration of the President’s love for the people of the state,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to award the contract for the construction of Makurdi-Gboko, Makurdi-Otukpo roads, and declared the two roads as “deplorable death traps”.

    Ayatse said that Benue was an agrarian state and therefore needed good roads to transport food produce to other parts of the country.

    He appealed to governments at all levels to make the payment of workers’ salaries a priority, and urged the Federal Government to assist Benue to defray its backlog of salaries.

    The monarch assured government of the support of traditional institution in the implementation of policies.

    Earlier, Osinbajo had assured the traditional ruler that the government was determined to find a lasting solution to flooding in the state.

    The Vice President, who admitted that paucity of funds was a major setback of the administration, however, assured that efforts would be made to find ways of tackling some of the issues raised by the Tor Tiv.

  • Benue: Herdsmen, others endorse November deadline for anti-gazing law

    Benue: Herdsmen, others endorse November deadline for anti-gazing law

    Stakeholders in Benue on Monday agreed to begin the implementation of the 2017 Anti-Open Grazing Law in November.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the law, which was signed by Gov. Samuel Ortom in June, gave herdsmen a deadline of October to end open grazing and replace same with ranching from Nov. 1.

    The stakeholders formally endorsed the deadline at the expanded State Security Council meeting held at the Benue People’s House, Makurdi.

    The stakeholders advised government to step up enlightenment ahead of the deadline, in view of the importance of the law.

    They also agreed that the law was not targeted at any tribe or group of persons, and urged all Benue residents to support it.

    NAN quotes Ortom as explaining that the expanded security meeting was to enlighten all stakeholders about the law and how it would be implemented.

    Ortom further said that ranching was the best system of cattle rearing the world over, stressing that his administration was willing to support herdsmen or people willing to stay in Benue and ranch their cows.

    He denied reports that government had given quit notice to herdsmen in Benue, explaining that they were free to remain in Benue “so long as they obey the law”.

    “The law does not provide that herdsmen should leave Benue; it only encourages herdsmen and any other individual, who wishes to rear livestock, to do so within ranches so as to minimise clashes between herdsmen and farmers.”

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue State Council of Chiefs, commended the government for the steps so far taken toward implementing the law.

    Ayatse, who was represented by Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer, urged herdsmen to embrace change as ranching was the best option worldwide.

    In his remarks, the Benue Coordinator of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), Alhaji Garus Gololo, said that his members were law-abiding citizens ready to support the anti-open grazing law.

    Gololo said that his association was not behind the suit against the Benue Government over the law, explaining that Miyetti Allah Kautal Kohe leadership were behind the court action.