The Edo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has implemented a ban on direct cash collection for revenue purposes throughout the state. This decision comes after several reports of individuals posing as revenue officers and extorting money from commercial bus drivers and market women.

In a statement, the state’s Secretary, Umar Musa Ikhilor, confirmed that the new policy will follow a standard revenue collection system already developed by the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) in collaboration with local councils and associations. The government emphasized that only licensed EIRS agents would be authorized to collect revenue, aiming to eliminate the issue of extortion.

The move also reinforces the ban on unlicensed agents and touts who had been illegally collecting money from citizens. The government’s goal is to safeguard both the public and the state’s revenue collection processes from fraud.

To ensure compliance, security agencies have been put on alert, and anyone found violating this directive will be held accountable. This step is part of the government’s effort to protect the citizens and maintain transparency in the state’s financial operations.