It has been disclosed that more than 70 ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, in Cross River State who have in recent times constituted themselves into revenue collecting MDAs, are not empowered by any legislation to do so, www.calitown.com has been informed.
Eteng Jones Williams, Chairman, Cross River State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, who made this disclosure to www.calitown.com, said this discovery was thrown up at the ongoing budget defence by MDAs. “Look at the Forestry Commission for instance, it is not a revenue generating commission by law, but the commission has gone on a revenue generation drive that has in many instances put her at loggerheads with members of the public and this is a sad development.”
He also disclosed that the countless enforcement agents used by most of these agencies are a nuisance. “You drive on the road and you see these boys jumping off vehicles and harassing law abiding citizens. Imagine if someone arrives here for the first time and these agents pounce on the person, will the person ever come back here? There is even a clear case with revenue agents who make multiple tax demands on the people. As a committee, we will work to iron out all of these issues and ensure that nobody living in the state will be made to pay money under dubious circumstances.”
On the current budget defence exercise in the House of Assembly, Williams emphasized that no MDA’s budget estimates will be glossed over as only a thorough job is expected of his committee. He again enjoined Cross Riverians to take part in the ongoing process so that the final outcomes will help push the state forward.