[left][left]This letter has become very pertinent at this time as both the Federal Govt of Nigeria & Rivers State Government through their agencies ( Federal Ministry of Finance & Rivers State Internal Revenue Service RIRS) has decided to play Politics with the Youths of Rivers State.
Over 100 youths of Rivers State were meant to be beneficiaries of Federal Govt Npower Tax programme after their training at Federal Treasury Academy Orozo Abuja in September & October 2017 & February 2018 for Stream 9, 10 & 24 respectively. It is worthy to note that Rivers State alone account for 12% Tax generation in Nigeria, highest after Lagos State (37%) for the Federal Govt of Nigeria while Tax revenue account for over 60% of IGR of Rivers State, yet Community Tax Liaison Officers (CTLOs) who were key advocates of the Voluntry Asset & Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) an initiative of the Federal Govt that have yielded over N30b & have always advocated for Tax compliance on both Federal & state level have been abandoned.
Over 100 youths of Rivers State have been owed N30,000 stipends arrears of over 9months, some for 5months while some few have their status still on hold. Despite several attempt to get to the authorities of both the Federal Govt & Rivers State Government in writing & visitations have yield no result to the plight of these young youths. We have been denied a mere paper called "Deployment Letter" from Rivers State Internal Revenue Service RIRS, as Staff of the agency claim to be acting on orders from above, precisely from the Governor Rivers State since it is an initiative of the Federal Govt and hence we (Rivers State Npower Tax CTLOs) could act as spy on the IGR of Rivers State. The Federal Govt through Npower Programme & Ministry of Finance has accused Rivers State Government of frustrating their efforts & hence have refused NOT to pay Rivers State Npower Tax CTLOs their stipends of N30,000 for months now. They have both traded blames at each other, as we (Rivers State Npower Tax CTLOs) have been told in clear terms by staff of both RIRS, FIRS, Ministry of Finance & Organisers of Npower, that the reasons for our Non-payment and Non-deployment are Political. The Federal Govt also have been very nonchalant & displayed insincerity on their own part, in that one would wonder why it will apportion blames on a Rivers State Government and have not made any effort to know and settle what ever could warranty the non-payment and non-deployment of it's Npower Tax CTLOs in Rivers State.
Indeed when two elephants fight, the grass suffers. Over 100 Rivers State Youths are now victims of a political struggle & power play between the Federal Govt & Rivers State Government for a programme of which youths from 35 other states of the federation are benefitting from. Npower Programme is meant to be a 2-year contract programme under which the beneficiaries are not meant to take up any other paid employment.
Why always Rivers State? Ideally, are we meant to call for public outcry for over 30k stipends before we will be paid? Why can't Npower Programme shift us to FIRS? if RIRS is not willing to absorb us, why not shift the Rivers State CTLOs under N-TAX to other Npower platforms like N-TEACH, N-HEALTH or N-AGRO? Why is Vice President Yemi Osibanjo & Governor Nyesom Wike silent over our plight? Is Rivers State not part of the Npower Tax programme anymore?
Why do we keep receiving emails from Npower for Tax training when we are been owed for over 250 days now? Shall we continue in Sin that grace may abound? - Romans 6:1, Maybe because we are educated youths and aren't Ex-millitants who will resort to blow up Oil pipelines & installations when they are being owed their amnesty stipends.
We are law abiding, hard-working & resourceful youths of Nigeria & Rivers State, we deserve better than this injustice been melted on us by both the Federal Govt & our State Government. According to Clearance Darrow "True patriotism hate injustice in it's own land than anywhere else"
We can't continue to do the same thing and expect a different result, let love lead..

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