Calabar – The Chairman of the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Prince Edwin Okon, on Wednesday held a meeting with representatives of Point of Sale (POS) operators in the state led by the state chairman of Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN), John Elogbo, seeking collaboration on tax payments. The discussions revolved around several key points, including mutual support for the government’s tax initiatives and a plea for a harmonized payment platform, either monthly or annually, rather than daily charges.
The POS operators expressed their willingness to work together and contribute to tax payments, aligning with practices observed in other states. One of the primary requests from the operators was the establishment of a consolidated payment system to streamline the tax collection process.
In response to the government’s initiative, the AMMBAN Cross River Chairman, Elogbo, issued a statement. While acknowledging ongoing dialogue with CRIRS for favorable terms, AMMBAN distanced itself from media reports linking the daily tax of ₦100 imposed by CRIRS to the association’s endorsement.
The association condemned any attempt to associate the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu, with the controversy. The leadership of AMMBAN emphasized its belief in the governor’s vision and urged POS agents to maintain professionalism while conducting business.
Meanwhile, social media reactions to the tax policy varied, with some expressing concerns and others defending the government’s position. The controversy surrounding the daily ₦100 tax was mentioned in the public discourse, although not elaborated on in the business news report.
As the dialogue between CRIRS and POS operators continues, the business community awaits further developments and a potential resolution to the tax-related issues.
