The Executive Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Okon Okon, sighting work done on a desktop during the commissioning of new ICT hardwares in the IRS digital centre.
By Abasifreke Effiong
In a bid to strengthen its digital capacity to meet the goal of having a fully automated revenue system, the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS, has commissioned a new set of ICT hardwares.
The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Okon Okon said the new set of ICT equipment will improve database management and end-to-end tax administration processes in the State.
Among other ICT hardwares commissioned was a state-of-the-art server which will make the ICT capacity of the agency more robust.
Speaking at the commissioning of the equipment at the internal revenue digital centre, Idongesit Nkanga secretariat, Uyo, Mr. Okon, said the agency is expanding its database of taxpayers, hence the new equipment will aid the creation of applications for carrying out tax processes.
He said the equipment upgrade is part of a concerted effort towards having a comprehensive, ICT-based tax management system and end-to-end automation of tax administration processes in the shortest possible time.
Mr. Okon noted that with the new ICT hardwares AKIRS will be able to integrate all the softwares used in revenue collection in the State.
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He said AKIRS is inching towards a fully automated revenue regime where tax assessment and payment would be done online with little or no human assistance and interference.
“We want to make sure that ICT supports us effectively and on-time, and enable us to do end-to-end automation of our processes in tax administration.”
“This new set of equipment will help to integrate all our tax management softwares. We are working towards having a system where all our revenue payment platforms will be linked to our website such that when a taxpayer login to our website and our TMS, he can access the assessment app online, supply all information required of him as though he was completing it before a physical assessor. Once all the pieces of information are fed into the system, the system can generate income taxable and tax payable, allowing the taxpayer pay online. That is where the world is heading and we must move along with the world.”
Mr. Okon hinted that the new ICT infrastructure will enhance revenue collection and give the agency a hands-on data on the revenue space of the State.
He said the Board will continue to scale up the ICT infrastructure of AKIRS until every taxable sector of the state’s economy is fully automated.
“We will continuously scale up our ICT infrastructure on needs basis. Let me stress that this new infrastructure will enhance revenue. It will make revenue collection easier and will give us hands-on view of our capacity and total revenue space in Akwa Ibom State. We will be able to play along with the Ivy league of Internal Revenue Boards that are ICT compliant.”
“Beyond the infrastructure itself, AKIRS has completely re-engineered its processes, restructured and strengthened the ICT department with more tech savvy staff”, Okon added.
Mr. Okon Okon, (2nd from right) flanked by management staff of AKIRS, listening to an explanation by the Head of ICT, Mr. Mfon Williams (Ist right).
Under Mr. Okon Okon led Board, AKIRS has fully automated its road taxes, land taxes, and PAYE, and it is currently working towards automating revenue collection in the informal sector.
Speaking on the new ICT infrastructure, the new head of ICT department, Mr. Mfon Williams said the hardwares will enhance real-time administration of tax processes in the state.
“With these equipment, we will improve our database and operations, and have a more seamless revenue administration.”
Mr. Williams assured that international best practices have been followed to ensure security and safety of taxpayers’ data in the State.
