NAN-H-44
NSCDC
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Jan.26, 2017 (NAN) The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ebonyi has denied sabotaging the state government’s revenue collection and monitoring.
The NSCDC provided security to the Federal Joint Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement Team against Multiple Taxes on Nigerian Highways which planned operations in the state last week.
The scheduled operation was resisted by a combined team of the state Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Office of the Governor’s Senior Special Adviser on Internal Security, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths.
The ensuing fracas led to the wounding of several compliance team’s members as several government feelers accused the NSCDC of aiding the team to perpetrate illegal activities in the state.
Mrs Chinwe Kannu, the NSCDC Commandant in Ebonyi, told NAN on Thursday that the command identified with the compliance team because it was statutorily recognised by the Federal Government.
Kannu said the command received a circular from it commandant-general on Nov. 26, 2016 to aid the compliance team carry out its operations on federal highways in the state.
“That was why I readily approved 25 officers to provide security for the team in its operations because of our conviction that its activities would also benefit state governments.
“The team prevents revenue due to the three tiers of government from entering private pockets as they assured that they have contacted all relevant authorities in the state on their activities,” she said.
Kannu said that she was shocked to hear while on an official duty in Abuja that his officers were providing security to an illegal group lodging in a hotel.
“On further enquiry, I discovered that they were at the hotel because that was the team’s take-off point where they would be assigned to various vehicles for the operations.
“I do not see anything wrong with the arrangement but I faulted my officers for not retreating to base on realising that the team was holding a press conference at the hotel instead of being on the highway at that point.
“We have, however, intensified our operational training and enlightenment of officers to be cautious during operations and ensure that such occurrence does not repeat,” she said.
She, therefore, assured the state government and relevant stakeholders of the command’s continued support and collaboration in ensuring security in the state.
“We cannot be against any government not to talk of the Gov. David Umahi’s administration which has supported and shown us love in several ways.
“Those who want to exploit the incident to paint us bad will fail as we pray that God guides the governor to understand that we are not sabotaging his government,” she said.
Leader of the compliance team, Chief Ozo Okoronkwo, had told NAN during the incident, that they were in the state as part of their monitoring activities on highways across the country to stop the illegal collection of levies on transporters of foodstuff by various groups.
“We were established by decree 21 of 1988 and ratified by (Cap. 29) Laws of the Federal Government of Nigeria 2004 as we duly informed the Ebonyi government of our presence,” Okoronkwo said.
Dr Chris Achi, Chairman of the State BIR, had said that the group was illegal and had no business collecting or monitoring revenue collection in the state.
“We discovered that the group has been coming to the state to disrupt our revenue collection and intimidating the people without caring to consult the state government on its activities.
Mr Kenneth Ugbala, the Governor’s SSA on Internal Security, noted that the group was chanting war songs at the hotel, threatening that they were ready to confront anyone.
“No one gave us clear information on their leadership as we have decided to shut the hotel until the security agencies concludes their investigation on the incident. (NAN)
RCO/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha