Market Leader In DSS Net Over Revenue Diversion
Loading ...By Nedum Noble
The Market leader of Oye Uga Market in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra, Mr. Victor Isichekwe has been arrested over alleged diversion of government revenue to his personal account.
The suspect, said to be in the practice of issuing fake receipt with which he diverted funds to his personal account, had since been handed over to the officers and men of Department of State Service.
The Commissioner for Trade, Commerce, Market and Wealth Creation, Dr Christian Mmadubuko who made the arrest, regretted that the ugly trend of revenue diversion had continued unabated, despite efforts of government in battling the scourge.
He insisted that the era of misappropriation of government funds were over, warning that any unauthorized persons caught in the act must be dealt with.
“All those who have permit from the government to collect revenues should revert back to the Ministry to ensure their job specification and the duration of their services are ascertained while the marketers should put on hold any payment till further notice,” he said.
The Head of Department, Market, in the Ministry, Mrs Nkiruka Ebo Nwosu, said on assumption of office in 2017, she noticed that market leaders were giving authority letters to collect revenue in their various markets.
She however regretted that many of them were not complying with the directive of using the integrated pay direct system in revenue collection.
Defending his actions, Mr. Isichekwe, said they were issued authority letter, but explained that they were compelled to printing of the receipts due to the marketers’ refusal to comply without being issued with receipts.
He disclosed that he commenced collection of the revenue in October last year with the cash sum of N190,000 in his custody.
