AMAC Trains Over 100 Revenue Collectors

Following public outcry over the activities of illegal revenue collectors, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has trained officials of the council on collection of revenue with decorum and respect for residents.

The over 100 trainees, comprising men and women of different grade levels, were drawn from the Mobile advert and Logistics Unit of AMAC.

Addressing participants at the training, in Abuja, the Director of Publicity and Enlightenment of G Learning Centre, Comrade Shehu Shugabe, said that the training will go a long way in addressing the complaints of touts extorting AMAC residents.

He said: “This training will go a long way in putting to an end the numerous complaints against revenue collectors in AMAC. It is very common for touts and illegal revenue collectors to harass residents and extort money from them. Some go as far as jumping into vehicles and even loosing plate numbers of vehicles in the name of collecting revenue”.

“When confronted, they often claim to be officials of AMAC, whereas we don’t even know them. Therefore, we will use this training to ensure that officials operate with decorum. No AMAC official will jump into your car or loose your plate number in the name of collecting revenue.

“As the Executive Chairman of AMAC recently specified, the officials will be operating at different entry points in Abuja. They won’t be seen in the city center. Therefore, anyone who harasses you in the name of AMAC, especially in the city center, is a criminal”.

“Furthermore, we want to work with the VIO to digitize revenue collection, with regards to company vehicles. Just with a touch of a device, we will know if a company has paid revenue for a vehicle, and not chasing after vehicles. Therefore, a lot of things will change with this training.”

He added: “The officials will have a uniform distinguishing them from the illegal revenue collectors. As you can see, in this training, the participants are putting on distinguishing shirts, face caps and black trousers, which will set them apart from anyone out there”.

“Even if the criminals parading themselves as revenue collectors imitate the uniform, we have other ideas such as biometric capturing for authenticity of our officials. In a nutshell, things will change after this training as we want residents of AMAC to be accorded respect.”

Speaking on the benefits of the training, a participant, Alice Hilary Ndoma, said the training will help her in effective service delivery.

Also speaking, another beneficiary, Mr Wilson Daniel, said the training will help him in looking at better ways of generating revenue for the council without harassing residents.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji