The four town councils in Maracha District have received computers and related equipment as part of government efforts to boost revenue mobilization under Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS).

The computers and printers, supplied by the Ministry of Local Government to town councils across the country, are expected to close the bottlenecks that have undercut revenue collection at the lower local government level.

Maracha District Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Peter Erisu Emwos said the distribution of the gadgets was part of government reforms to support lower local governments in digitalizing revenue mobilization.

“The main purpose of these computer is to enhance revenue collection and data management, you are aware we have stopped manual collection of revenue,” he said at the handover of the computers and printers in his office on Monday, December 15.

Erisu cautioned the town clerks against failing to operationalize the usage of the machines which could defeat the purpose for their procurement.

“We want to urge you the town clerks to put these computers to use, it is not good to go and find them in boxes, the way they are given to you, we also don’t want to find them dusty, being dusty means you are not using them,” he warned.

He urged the lower local governments that need capacity enhancement in the use of the machines and digital revenue collection to reach out to the higher local government for support.

‘Where we have capacity need please refer to us then we can have a small training. We can organize with finance (department). Chairpersons oversee their use,” said Erisu.

Maracha District Vice Chairperson, Hon. Bosco Asea appreciated Ministry of Local Government for bearing the burden of procuring the gadgets stating most lower local governments do not have the resource envelope to acquire computers.

“If government is making an effort to try to equip these machines so that it will definitely enhance the work that you are doing we really need to thank government,” he said.

He observed some of the town councils lack adequate security measures which jeopardizes the safety of the machines.

“I pray you provide (security) with in the areas so that these computers are kept very well, once that is done for us we shall have not have any other issue with you,”   Hon. Asea remarked.

Ovujo Town Council Chairperson Hon. Philliam Buatre commended government for this timely support.

“We planned to buy computers two financial years have passed without achieving this due to the meagre IPFs (indicative planning figures). I pledge they will be safe and functional. We hope for more support,” he said.

IRAS is a web and mobile application platform that aids municipalities in collection of local revenue from registration, assessment, billing, payment, sensitization of taxpayers and linking the citizens to lower local government entities.

IRAS features a feedback platform for sensitizing taxpayers. Taxpayers can also share feedback with the local governments. The two way feedback platform promotes accountability and transparency.