Revenue: AMAC cautions residents against cash payment

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has warned residents against making cash payments to revenue collectors of the council.

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, AMAC, gave the warning while briefing newsmen on the area council’s new revenue regime, on Wednesday, in Abuja.

Maikalangu said that the new policy, which exempted the transport sector, was aimed at blocking financial leakages, sanitising the system and improving revenue generation.

He added that the development was also part of the administrations’ commitment to curb multiple taxation, touting, extortion and diversion of the council’s revenues.

According to him, the council was hesitant to disband the technical partners due to the fact that governance is a continuous process.

“Further revelations about the criminal diversion of revenues into private accounts, touting and fake personnel in the field however, made it expedient for us to heed to widespread public outcry.

“In view of these and many developments, I wish to repeat that the nullification of all forms of MoUs entered into by past regimes is in force.

“Every form of collection except those in the transport sector, must halt forthwith.

“In that regard, we have stopped all forms of cash payments henceforth.

“Prospective clients are advised to proceed to the Chief Revenue Officer’s office in the council secretariat, to obtain payment tellers and new account numbers, and make payment at designated banks,” the AMAC helmsman stated.

Maikalangu further warned that any technical partner, who was found culpable of violating the new law, would be prosecuted.

“The new policy must be respected and statutory staff must strictly abide by it as far as revenue generation is concerned.

“The paying public is hereby enjoined to guard against criminals who, in the bid to shortchange government, collect peanuts with fake receipts,” he said.

The chairman added that the administration was out to ensure that resources available were strictly expended for the purpose for which they were meant.

He also called on the residents to report any suspected case of diversion and extortion, as well as any irregularities to the council, via its call center number 09162410000 or security personnel nearest to them.