ABIA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES EMBLEM SAGA: ABiRS Give Facts On Disengagement of Erondus’ Services

Following the controversy and debate revolving the removal of Elder Azubuike Ihuoma Erondu, the C.E.O of Zubic Global Ventures, who was formerly engaged on the collection of the Unified Emblem for commercial vehicles for the year 2022 in Abia state, the state Internal Revenue Service management has given factual position on why the contract termination was effected.

The chairman of Abia state Board of Internal Revenue, Agbara Celestine has pointed out clearly that his office acted in line with Joint Tax Board (JTB) guidelines and World bank standards, the Abia State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law, 2020 which was signed into law on the 26th day of August, 2020 by the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D.

From the information gathered by candidreporters.com on Monday, Zubics Global Ventures was engaged on the contract with a letter dated and sighed on December, 2021 with the mandate of collection of the Unified Emblem tax on commercial vehicles for a period of one year commencing from January 1, 2022 to December 31,2022, subject to quarterly performance review as basis for continuation.

But in a letter dated 23rd June, 2022 and signed by Agbara Celestine B.A, Ag. Chairman/Chief Executive of Abia state Internal Revenue Service, served  Zubic Global Ventures a letter of suspension of Appointment for the collection of the Unified Emblem for the year 2021 in Abia state.

According to the content of the letter, the suspension was attracted due to “poor performance” as stated in  the letter as;”(1) consistently carried on with collection of Unified Emblem without adopting ABiRS e-ticket/e-Emblems, upload system.

(2) Flagrantly flaunted laid down regulations, code of conduct, ethics in collections and enforcement of compliance of the revenue windows by;
* Collection without using ABiRS e-ticket/E-emblems approved platforms.

*Collection above amount as authorized from ABiRS

*Engaging enforcers without recourse/clearance from ABiRS.

* Approaching the court while an appointment subsist with intent to (I)coax ABiRS from proceeding to quarterly review performance. (Ii) continue to make fraudulent collection outside ABiRS authorized prices.

*Reverting to the hackneyed understanding with Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest Scheme(ASPIMS) against the settled understanding even while your appointment with ABiRS subsists.

Meanwhile, there exist protocol for e-Emblem in Abia state which states that from January 1, 2022, all emblems sales in Abia state becomes electronic and all transactions in Abia state must be undertaken on the e-Emblem platform.

Elder Azubuike Ihuoma Erondu, C.E.O Zubic Global Ventures had in a latter dated 23rd February,2022 task the Joint Motor Unions Administration, Joint Tipper Task Force in Abia state authorized the motor unions to coordinate, collect and remit to the appropriate quarters within the scope under the directives and supervision of Zubic Global Ventures and in accordance with the Abia state revenue Act/law as amended.

Joint Tax Board (JTB) Guidelines And World Bank Standards;

In line with Joint Tax Board (JTB) guidelines and World bank standards, the Abia State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law, 2020 was signed into law on the 26th day of August, 2020 by the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D.

The law injects a harmonious revenue collection pursuant to the sacrosanct provisions of S. 16(2), (3) and (4) of the Abia State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law, 2020 which provide as follows:

S. 16 (2): Notwithstanding the provision of any other law in the State, the Abia State Internal Revenue Service shall have exclusive powers to control, administer and collect different taxes and levies within the State as provided in this law.

S. 61 (3): In carrying out the provisions of this law, all taxes, levies, fees and rates collectible by Local Governments and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the State shall be collected by the Abia State Internal Revenue Service on their behalf,

S.16 (4): Any Ministry, Department or Agency which immediately before the commencement of this law is vested with the power by virtue of any law or instrument to administer or collect any tax, non-tax revenue or levies imposed by and accruable to the State Government or any Local Government shall cease to exercise such power and the power to administer and collect the taxes, non-tax revenue and levies shall vest exclusively in the Abia State Internal Revenue Service.

Thus, The chairman of Abia state Board of Internal Revenue, Agbara Celestine has advised Abians and general public to disregard any social media rants on the matter because it is engineered for mischievous reason.