The Executive Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR), Hon. Joel Onowhakpor-Thomas has said that the ongoing transformation process in the Board will soon make it a reference point in the whole of Africa in relation to the continent’s tax system, just as he said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has approved the setting up of ICT facilities for all the offices of the agency across the state.
Hon. Joel-Onowakpo who stated this in Asaba during the closing ceremony of a five-day retreat organized for staff of the board, held that part of the plans that would launch the state into the continental limelight is the proposed physical Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facilities which according to him will make the activities of the Biard accessible, effective and facilitate quick service delivery.
He told the staff that aside the approval of generating plants for all the offices of the board in the state, which according to him will put and end to the epileptic power supply currently in the country, he said the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is doing everything possible to ensure that the revenue base of the state is increased and all leakages blocked.
“If the ICT project is consummated as the idea is conceived, there will be no tax system in Africa that will be better than the one we will have in Delta State. Let me use this medium to inform you that there are massive transformation and reformations currently going on within the board. Today, everything, everything is getting better by the day.
“With the approval and construction of the integrated BIR Headquarters in Warri, five regional offices and a data recovery centre, there is no gain saying the fact that we are now the envy of the bigger structure that we found ourselves.”
He therefore, urged staff of the board to brace up to the task of taking the board and the state tax system to an enviable heights by being proactive, particularly in driving the state government’s ‘Delta Beyond Oil vision.
“We are working towards making sure that staff of the board stands tall among other professionals in the world. So, you should be prepared to improve yourselves based on your peculiarities.”
Meanwhile, as part of the activities marking this year’s retreat with the theme; “Delta Beyond Oil; Implications and the role of Delta State Board of Internal Revenue” 18 retirees of the board were honoured and presented with several gifts.
Onawakpo while lauding the resilience, commitments and dedication of the retirees during their service years at the board, enjoined those still serving to take a cue from them and fashion out ways to take the board to greater heights.
Some of the retirees while expressing gratitude to the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan as well as successive governments in the state for providing them with the enabling environment to serve commended the leadership styles of the Chairman of the board, Mr. Joel Onowakpo whom they described as a father.
