NIGERIA – Oil-rich Delta State taskforce chairman wages war against illegal revenue collectors, tasks motorists to acquire genuine drivers licence, vehicles’ particulars

Worried by the high rate at which oil-rich Delta State lose huge revenues through corruption, illegal revenue collection by touts and miscreants, the Chairman of Delta State Join Taskforce on Revenue Leakages, Malachi Moye has warned unauthorized revenue collectors to desist, even as he tasked motorists to acquire genuine drivers licence, vehicles’ particulars from the appropriate agencies.

Malachi made the appeal in his office when Time Africa paid him a visit on the operational modus of the his men who often block the roads to intercept motorists without valid driver’s license and vehicle particulars. more also arrest illegal revenue collectors.

Cumulatively, he said since his assumption of office Delta State has topped the list of States with less incidences of illicit activities of revenue touting, even as he expressed satisfaction that motorists now genuinely apply for valid licensing and vehicle particulars that make them worthy of been on the wheels

On the issue of accountability, remittance of defaulters penalties into State Treasury, to ensure probity, he said all penalties ate paid to the Delta State Government IGR Single Treasury account.

“The revenue leakages has had a debilitating effect on the State,’ he said

To avert patronizing touts and ensure transparent process for an independent assessment, validation and completeness of revenue payment, he urged the public to always visit State Revenue board.

He also pointed out that the State Governor His Excellency Ifeanyi Author Okowa is working assiduously to block leakages in various revenue streams including State Ministries and Agencies to optimise the revenue growth.

He said his field men have detected various non-compliant practices by road-users.

Specifically on the issuance of Drivers Licence, he ilexplained that constitutionally it’s a tripartite process which includes Federal Road Safety Commission -for capturing and printing, Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) for testing and road worthiness and States Revenue board for collection of revenue and issuance of receipts.

In recent years, state governments across Nigeris have launched various initiatives aimed at widening their revenue base and stemming leakages in revenue collection.

Despite these efforts, they continue to face an uphill task in combatting commercial dealers’ use of non-compliace practices, including issuance of fake vehicles registrations, invalid drivers license and vehicles number plates. .

Malachi led taskforce is striving to tackle these issues in Delta State, but he is often hampered by a lack of intelligent technology to help track revenue leakages.