Before another Governor Snatches Ayabam from Benue

Before Another Governor Snatches Ayabam From Benue

By Jimin Geoffrey

As the dwindling prices of crude oil in the internal market continue to bite harder on the economy, international communities are devising ways of cushioning the negative effect of the economic crunch. In Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed all revenue generating agencies of the federal government to pay all revenue monies directly into the Federation Account. This is to avoid some leakages associated with payment of revenue funds into accounts other than the Federation Account. If the directive by President Buhari is adhered to, it will surely boost the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the country.

Aside that, the President, through his body language, has demonstrated his readiness to stamp out the hydra-headed monster called corruption in the country. Although it may take a little longer to achieve this, at a long run, the result will be fantastic.

President Buhari has also intensified campaigns on the need for public office holders to see public office as an opportunity to serve and also be selfless in their services to the nation.

Here in Benue State, because the state is strictly a civil service state, it ranks top among the states badly affected in terms of dwindling financial position. Workers and pensioners are owed salaries for months and the state of Internally Generated Revenue, IGR is bad, hence the need to strengthen revenue generating institutions to boost the IGR of the state.

This underscores the need for Governor Samuel Ortom to appoint a technocrat and somebody who has the magic wand to steer the affairs of the Benue State Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, in order for the state to meet some of its financial obligations. The first person that comes to mind here is Mr. Andy Ayabam. He is indeed a round peg in a round hole here.

Mr. Andrew Ayabam was appointed chairman of BIRS in 2010 by then Governor Gabriel Suswam. Prior to his appointment, little or nothing was being heard of the board in terms of IGR for the state. His coming was indeed timely and he took over Five Thousand youths of Benue off the streets by providing them with meaningful employments, though on contract basis.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that during Ayabam’s reign as BIRS Chair, the board generated between N700 million and N1.2 billion monthly. Staff were periodically motivated to do their work through incentives. This, no doubt, enhanced productivity among them. Since Ayabam’s controversial exit from the board and the appointment of Mr. Gabriel Asen as acting chairman, its name has almost gone extinct again.

With the determination of Governor Samuel Ortom’s administration to stamp out corruption, increase IGR and promote competence above mediocrity and sycophancy, there is no point gambling with the appointment of BIRS chair.

Interestingly, Governor Ortom had recently stated during an interaction with media practitioners in the state that the target of his administration was to generate N2 billion monthly as IGR. He said Benue has no reason to be generating merely N200 million monthly as revenue. For this to become a reality, capable hands must man revenue generating agencies and boards for the needed results to be achieved.

Unconfirmed findings by The New Facts revealed that two states from the north are currently negotiating with the revenue guru to employ his services so he can help turn around the fortunes of their states through IGR. Benue State MUST NOT let Ayabam go because the state will miss a lot without him.

Furthermore, it is imperative to note that Benue needs to be proud of her own by promoting indigenous talents.