Revenue Collection: We Deal With Registered Agents, Not Touts – Agric Commissioner
The Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Charles Nworgu say the Ministry of Agriculture has never in anyway tolerated touting in revenue collection for the ministry.
Hon. Nworgu stated this while addressing some stakeholders on the issue of touts that molest traders under the pretext of revenue collection.
According to him, the ministry deals with registered agents that collect agricultural revenue at the point of unloading and remit same to the coffers of the government, stressing that the ministry has never taken cash from any person or the registered agents.
His words: “We do not collect money from tables but vehicles that bring fruits into the State, because it is our obligation to ensure that the fruits that were brought into the markets are healthy for consumption. It is only those vehicles that pay certain fees, and that the law has been there for ages”.
He reaffirmed the ministry commitment to protect and ensure that agricultural produce brought into the state were certified for consumption.
Hon. Nworgu explained that the state government has various ways of raising internally generated revenue which they use to provide essential services for the public, and that is done through the various ministries, adding that the Ministry of Agriculture is one ministry that guarantees revenue through forest trade, agro produce, inspection fee, cattle market and meat inspection fee, of which little money is being paid to the government coffers, and not to the ministry.
He called on traders and individuals to report any suspicious character witnessed around the agents as it concerns the collection of agricultural revenue.
