NAN-H-63
Essay
Jos, Feb. 22, 2017 (NAN) A total of 450 entries, from 32 secondary schools across Plateau, have been received for this year’s Plateau Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) Essay Writing Competition.
The students are expected to write on taxation in the state, and specifically offer suggestions toward enhancing such receipts in Plateau.
Chief Vonjen Lar, the Chairman of the eight-man panel of judges assessing the entries, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Jos.
Lar, a retired Permanent Secretary, described the response from the students and schools as, “very positive and “encouraging”.
“We have already started marking the scripts; we shall move through various stages and eventually arrive at the best three.
“We shall try to adopt measures to be sure that the entries were written by the students so as to eliminate cheating.
“We want to avoid situations where teachers or relations may write for participants and get away it,” he said.
He said that the competition, which was introduced in 2014, was aimed at reforming the minds of youths on the essence of tax payment, tax administration and the negative consequences of non-compliance with extant laws.
“It is also part of efforts to sensitize parents and the public on the need to pay their taxes regularly, to enable government provide basic amenities for societal growth,’’ he said.
Lar further said that the prizes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places would be in the junior and senior categories, while consolation prizes would be given to all participants to serve as a morale booster. (NAN)
TYC/ETS
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Edited by Ephraims Sheyin