Otti suspends payments from unauthorized channels
…terminates revenue enforcement contracts
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has suspended payments from all unauthorised channels just as it has terminated all forms of revenue enforcement in the state.
The governor said while the suspension of payments from unauthorized channels was to ensure proper accountability and reporting, the termination of all forms of revenue enforcement was part of measures to sanitize the transport sector and markets.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko, in two separate statements in Umuahia on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, called on all concerned with the termination of revenue enforcement to return all Government property in their possession.
With regard to payments from unauthorised channels, the statement read: “For proper accountability and reporting, the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, by this notice suspends payments from all unauthorised channels.
“All payments are to be made through designated Bank Branches. Additional approved online and offline channels will be communicated by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue and Digital Transformation. This announcement takes immediate effect.”
On the termination of revenue enforcement, Uko said: “As part of the measures to sanitise activities around the transport sector and markets in the State, the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, by this notice has approved the termination of all appointments for any type of Revenue Enforcement in the State. This takes immediate effect.
“Consequently, affected persons are to return all Government property in their possession to the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally-Generated Revenue and Digital Transformation, immediately.
“The Special Adviser on Internally-Generated Revenue will advice further on the government’s plan in this regard.”
Recall that since his assumption of office on May 29, 2023, when he was inaugurated, the new Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has taken several measures to put his administration on fine footing to be able to tackle governance issues, including appointments members of his kitchen cabinet and 22 aides, as well as dissolution of agencies and boards; and embarking on clearing of refuse dumps littering the streets of Aba and Umuahia which the immediate past administration did not clear before handing over power to the Otti administration; aside holding meetings with various stakeholders.
