The Rivers State government said it has instituted a robust accounting system to ensure transparency in financial transactions. The Commissioner for Finance, Rivers State, Dr. Chamberlin Peterside disclosed this Monday in a breakfast chat with journalists in Port Harcourt.
According to him, when he assumed duties few months ago the accounting system was in a mess, hence the need to revitalize or reform the entire system. Dr. Peterside said he has commenced training of the personnel of the Finance Ministry. He recalled that sometime in July, this year the ministry trained accountants on International Public Sector Accounts (IPSAS) to increase the capacity and efficiency of the officers for maximum productivity.
Commenting on how much the state government has saved so far from its N1bm monthly savings since 2007; the Finance Commissioner said N34bn has so far been saved, noting that the state spends N8bn monthly on wage bill of public servants. He was categorical that the state is not broke and hinged his position on the fact that funds-flow was normal and the government discharges its monetary obligations accordingly.
Dr. Peterside said his administration has witnessed effective accounting system, with the payroll management that has hitherto posed a problem to the government being tackled.
The Finance Commissioner said the ghost workers syndrome has also been tackled headlong, as civil servants now receive regular payslips. This he said has never happened in the history of Rivers State.
The commissioner said the whole essence is not only to make Gov. Chibuike Amaechi’s government successful, but bequeath a good legacy to posterity.
Also speaking, the Chairman Board of Internal Revenue, Rivers State, Mrs. Onene Osila Obele-Oshoku said the only way to cushion the effect of the dwindling allocation from the federation Account is to beef up internally generated Revenue (IGR).
She regretted that Rivers State cannot compete favourably with other states like Lagos, which she said generates 80% of her revenue from internal sources.
According to her, people should willingly pay their taxes, instead of waiting to be chased around. In line with that, Mrs. Obele-Oshoku said there is need for sensitization, assuring that the state government will not witchhunt anybody in its drive to achieving results in taxation. ####
Barth Ndu
