WARRI/Nigeria: In a concerted effort to bolster community engagement and widen the dissemination of information regarding the activities of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DIRS), members of the Delta State Community Newspapers and Magazines Publishers have advocated for increased collaboration between local media outlets and the revenue agency.
During a courtesy visit to the Chairman of DIRS, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata, on Monday, February 26, 2024, at the headquarters of the State’s Internal Revenue office in Warri, the publishers emphasized the pivotal role played by grassroots newspapers in amplifying the initiatives of DIRS across the state.
“The importance of ‘grassroots’ newspapers in promoting the activities of DIRS across the state cannot be overemphasized,” remarked Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye, Chairman of Community Newspapers and Magazines Publishers, and also the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Community Newspapers.
Orhomonokpaye commended the appointment of Chief Solomon Ighrakpata to lead DIRS, citing his competence and administrative prowess as essential ingredients for driving transformation, revenue growth, and socioeconomic development in the state.
Highlighting the symbiotic relationship between media and DIRS, Orhomonokpaye stressed the need for better synergy and advocated for leveraging local newspapers and magazines to bolster the visibility of DIRS’ operations and services.
He underscored the significant role played by local newspapers in fostering societal development, citing their function as instruments for education and enlightenment.
“Community newspapers have a wider reach out to the people and keep them up-to-date on the trajectory of socioeconomic developments in the state,” noted Orhomonokpaye, emphasizing the potential benefits of prioritizing the use of community media in advertising the operations of DIRS.
In response, Hon. Solomon Ighrakpata expressed gratitude to the publishers for their support in reporting government projects and programs aimed at enhancing the welfare of Deltans. He highlighted the impressive revenue performance of DIRS, surpassing its targets and achieving unprecedented growth.
Despite these achievements, Ighrakpata reiterated the agency’s commitment to exploring innovative measures to further increase revenue generation, including engaging consultants and implementing ICT solutions for seamless data management.
He called on the publishers to collaborate in educating citizens about their civic responsibility of tax payment, emphasizing that tax revenue is vital for funding essential government projects and services.
Furthermore, Ighrakpata pledged to maintain a strong relationship with community newspapers, ensuring their effective utilization in promoting the operations of DIRS.
“As we continue to explore new areas and consolidate on our gains, we solicit the support of the office of the SSA to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Community Newspapers in the continuous information dissemination and education of our citizenry,” he stated.
In conclusion, Ighrakpata reiterated the significance of tax compliance for the overall development of the state, emphasizing that when citizens fulfill their tax obligations, the government can execute projects for their benefit in line with Governor Oborevwori’s agenda.
