Maduako Igbokwe I Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023
AWKA, Nigeria – There is palpable tension at the Anambra Internal Revenue Services AiRS following rumours that governor Charles Soludo may sack the Chairman Dr Greg Ezeilo and the Executive Director Operations Dr Christian Madubuko to save the board from further embarrassment.
Recall that there have been cold war between Ezeilo and Madubuko for some months now and it climaxed yesterday following the query issued by Ezeilo to Madubuko which exposed damning reports of boardroom politics of attrition pervading the Revenue House.
An Insider source said that Soludo since the face off between his Revenue men started have been studying the situation as startling revelations were made about the sharp practices in the system as well as confusion in the Revenue profile of the state .
According to the source,the silence of Gov Soludo has created strong apprehension within the ranks of the Anambra Internal Revenue Services AiRS as the two waring Executive Heads have been making frantic efforts to discourage the governor from terminating their appointments.
Deepening this situation is the strike embarked upon by the Heavy Duty Haulage Truck Drivers Association over heavy taxation by revenue agents as against the official sum approved by the governor, a development that has jolted the commercial landscape of Anambra state.
The drivers since Monday have embarked on a mass protest that would last for days to register their unhappiness over the alleged heavy taxation by the government.
When contacted about the possible sacking of the Chairman and Executive Director, the Press Secretary to Gov Charles Soludo Mr Christian Aburime said that he is not aware of the development stating that the governor would make it public through government official platforms.
“I am not aware of the plans to terminate the appointments of the Chairman of the Anambra Internal Revenue Services AiRS and the Executive Director Operations”
“The governor has not made it known to me and whenever the governor wants to do that he would make it public through government official platforms available to him”
“You know that Mr Governor takes his time to study situations and that he is silent about whatever that is happening there doesn’t mean that he is not doing anything about this development but we need to give him ample time to study the situation before taking any action or steps in that regard ” he said.
At the AIRS complex most officials approached by reporters declined to speak on the plan to sack the principal officers while some simply said that it is long over due.
“What do you want me to say now ? I am a Civil Servants and those fighting themselves are politicians so I have a job to protect but if it means sacking all of them I think it is long over due ” a senior staff in the complex said.
