Double taxation: AMAC moves to streamline database, payment system

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to help eradicate double taxation, authorities of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), have stepped up efforts to streamline the burdensome process of paying taxes by residents of the council.
To this end, the Council trained Revenue Officers on the use of an AMAC Survey App that will help provide critical data needed to guide the Council’s efforts to increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-Day workshop for the Revenue Officers, AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, said IGR enumeration effort will be instrumental in fostering a climate where businesses can thrive, as the council builds the AMAC Online Business Directory.
Candido, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Rahmat Abisola Abdullahi added that the programme will build the capacity of the AMAC officers on generating the needed data that will mutually benefit the business community while improving service delivery to residents.
He said that with the AMAC IGR enumeration effort, the Council wants to set the pace in efficiency in local government revenue collection and accountability, and to leverage on all statutory revenue sources.
According to him, the data it will generate from the enumeration exercise is very important, and would assist the AMAC in creating a robust AMAC revenue database, while improving our value proposition.
“As we look to a future where the strength of the local government will be drawn from ideas and partnerships with civil society organisations, schools, businesses and individuals we’d like
to start by building a relevant database.
“With the AMAC IGR Enumeration effort, we want to set the pace in efficiency in local government revenue collection and accountability, and to leverage on all statutory revenue sources.
“The delivery of any kind of development can only be achieved with the use of and efficient revenue database. In the era of improved and efficient delivery of the dividends of democracy it is imperative that AMAC raises her a-game towards maximising her revenue base.
“When we improve our revenue base, particularly our efforts at collecting internal revenue, there is more that we can do. If you look at the 2020 Budget of the AMAC, there are clearly several critical capital projects that go to imp roving the lives of residents of AMAC. These projects were carefully chosen to add value in the spirit of the programmes of
our party the All Progressives Congress (APC),” he stressed.
He continued: “Let me assure you that the AMAC IGR enumeration exercise is not an attempt to dislodge or displace anybody. the objective is build a database that will assist the AMAC to do more in areas of completing our ongoing projects and development.
” I wish to solicit the support of every stakeholder which include the staff of AMAC, the security agencies and all residents of AMAC in this all important AMAC IGR enumeration exercise.”
He therefore appreciate the Council’s technical partners Acropolis for their partnership and enterprise.