Worldview Magazine, Senior Correspondents Visit TIRS to Strengthen Media Relations
By Daniel Mtindiga
A team from Worldview Magazine, Publishers of Worldview Newspapers and Magazine accompanied by senior journalists, paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the Taraba State Board of Internal Revenue Service (TIRS), Brig. Gen. Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa (RTD), in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.
The visit, led by Mr. Williams Ayooso, aimed to commend Gen. Faransa for his efforts in revenue generation and to explore opportunities for enhanced media collaboration.
Ayooso emphasized the significance of the Agency in Taraba State’s progress, highlighting its crucial role in internally generated revenue.
“The purpose of this Courtesy Call is summarized into three (3) phases; first, we wish to identify with you on the backdrop of the sensitivity of this agency in Taraba State.
“The second phase is premised on Media relationship that exist between this Agency and the Media in Taraba State and the third phase is equally premised on the relationship between this Agency and the Worldview Magazine family,” he revealed.
Ayooso also noted that the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas is talking so much about infrastructure, free education and other basic amenities but then, these cannot be achieved without internally Generated Revenue.
He added that Taraba State has abundant mineral resources but saboteurs have taken advantage of the State’s simplicity to impoverish it,but Gen. Faransa is changing the narrative with good initiatives.
He however, sued for a more closed working relationship between the Agency and the Media in order to feed the public with quality information on the activities and progress of the Agency for more development.
Gen. Faransa who welcomed the team and acknowledged the importance of media partnerships, expressed his commitment to working closely with the media to promote transparency and development in the State.
Faransa identified illegal revenue channels, illegal mining, deforestation, low tax payment, and poor leadership as factors hindering revenue growth in the State.
In his words, “It is only in Taraba that anybody can just walk into a printing press, print receipts, go to the high ways on start collecting money in the name of revenue without any query or punishment.
” Extortion is everywhere though, I have written a lot of recommendations but nothing has been done about it. From Jalingo to Zing, there are more than thirty checkpoints likewise every oute in the State. In other States, it is entirely different,” he said.
He however reaffirmed his unwavering commitment and resolve to keep doing the right thing not minding the attacks and evils feelings of those who do not mean well for the state even as he tasked Journalists in the State to always be fair and balanced in their reportage about sensitive matters.
Some Board members from the revenue service who were present during the visit, commended the Media Team for initiating such visit aimed at collaborating efforts to foster development and more awareness about the progress of the Agency as well as the State.
They also sued for more professional and accurate reportage on tax matters, citing knowledge gap as a leading issue faced by the Internal Revenue Service in the state.
While giving a goodwill message, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy, Hon. Justin Tyopuusu lauded General Faransa’s strides within the short time in office and further stressed on the need for media relationship stressing that Media and governance work hand in- hand.
Journalists who were present at the visit include, Correspondent Chapel Chairman/News Agency of Nigeria’s Correspondent, Comr. Gabriel Yough, Punch Newspapers Correspondent/Special Adviser to Gov Agbu Kefas on Digital Economy, Hon. Justin Tyopuusu, the Sun Newspapers
Correspondent/NUJ Financial Secretary, Silvanus Viashima.
