The Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency, Dr. Emmah Isong, has threatened to prosecute tax consultants and seek disciplinary action against local government chairmen still collecting tax and levies from those exempted from payment of tax in the state.

The Chairman issued the threat on Thursday in a statement in Calabar while condemning the roadblocks mounted for tax collection in local council areas in the state.

He said, “It has come to the notice of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency that some newly inaugurated chairmen of Local Government Councils have resumed illegal collection of revenues and (mounting) checkpoints contrary to His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade’s directives of 20th May 2020, and Cross River State 2015 Tax Exemptions laws.”

He said, while appreciating the need for councils, ministries, departments, and agencies to step up their internally generated revenues, they should not collect such from the exempted categories such as: Okada riders, Keke NAPEP, taxi drivers, owners of small businesses, civil servants of lowest income brackets, etc.

“We congratulate our council chairmen but remind them to see their victory at the polls and inauguration as an act of God and a duty to serve the people and protect the poor.

“The Cross River State Anti- Tax Agency shall not hesitate to recommend any defiant council executive or political appointee to the State House of Assembly for appropriate disciplinary actions and shall prosecute any tax agent or consultant before the newly constituted mobile courts,” Isong said.

He called on members of the public to report any person that demands illegal taxes and tickets by calling on the hotline: 07026105177.