Gov Ayade Inaugurates C-River Tax Exemption Agency

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Cross River Government has granted tax holiday to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) as part of measures to address social inequality and poverty alleviation in the South South state.

Governor Ben Ayade said the gesture aims at strengthening his administration’s resolve to continuously promote a favourable business climate in the state and bring the people out of biting poverty

The governor broke the good news in Calabar, the State capital while inaugurating the State Anti-Tax Agency (CRATA) with Bishop (Dr) Emmah Isong, the founder of Christian Chapel International, as its Chairman

He tasked the Agency to explore all available avenues that will drive growth and ensure the state’s economic sector experiences ‘torrential boom’, especially in the area of job creation and employment generation for the teaming youths in Cross River State.

Professor Ayade, who urged the Agency to work hard at delivering on its mandate, expressed the hope that the members would bring their wealth of experience to bear on the assignment.

Noting that the responsibility comes with its hazards, the governor charged the members to bear in mind that their closeness to God places a huge burden on them to be transparent in service delivery while doing good to all people irrespective of their faith, tribe, and state of origin.

In his remarks after the inauguration, Chairman of the Agency, Bishop (Dr) Emmah Isong thanked the Governor for giving them the opportunity to serve the state, pledging that no stone will be left unturned in the process of achieving the set goals.

Bishop Isong said the Small Scale Tax Exemption Law, which has been in place since 2015, would enable the poor and vulnerable to take advantage of the new business climate to actualize their dreams of becoming owners of thriving small scale businesses.

He assured that a situation where the ordinary people suffered extortion in the hands of illegal tax consultants, who imposed unauthorized taxes and levies on their businesses, would soon be a thing of the past.

The clergyman, also the current National Publicity Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), said the Agency will work closely with the State House of Assembly and the judiciary towards ensuring the existing mobile courts take care of sanctioning offenders to act as a deterrent to others.

“The tax holiday would enable business organizations who had earlier relocated out of the state to return en masse and benefit from the new improved and secured business environment”, he said.

In explaining the extensive coverage of the tax holiday, Governor Ayade had listed the beneficiaries to also include commercial motor cyclists; taxi drivers; hair salon operators; restaurants; and those generally involved in petty trading across the State.