MATAN: Edo Chapter Of MATAN, Receives 3-Day Training Exercise For Project Managers, Enumerators, Agents

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Edo State chapter of Market Traders Association of Nigeria (MATAN) recently received 3-Day Training for Project Managers, Enumerators and Agents across the State.

The exercise is aimed at bringing succour to the informal sector, create win-win arrangement between the people and government. It was organized by the national body of MATAN in partnership with Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Abuja.

The Joint Tax Board and other government parastatals also participated in the training exercise tagged, “Integrated Marketing Revenue Management System: A Subset called Vat Direct Initiative (VDI).”

Declaring the event opening, The Chairperson, MATAN, Edo state chapter, Deaconess Marina Osaghae, applauded participants for turning out en masse and admonished all to make good use of the opportunity and knowledge acquirered during the training exercise in line with the constitution to enhance smooth operations and benefits for all.

The exercise which took place in Benin City, Edo State capital, recorded huge turnout of members across the state. It commenced with Project Managers, Enumerators and agents who are directly involved in the Vat Direct Initiatives (VDI) and the Integrated Marketing Revenue Management System (IMRMS) for enumeration of traders and other associated activities.

The resource persons include the National Head of Administration and Coordinator of Training and other Associates Activities, Comrade Israel M. Johnson, National Project Manager, Trade, Muhammed Pedro, National Project Manager, Haulage, Vitus Agba, National Head of Procurement, Hunpevi Kolade and the Personal Secretary to Chairman, National Steering Committee, Olalekan Ojo.

Speaking at the event, a Patron of the Edo chapter of MATAN, Prince Tony Omoaghe, said he believes the training would not be difficult for the participants. Adding that Edo people are very intelligent people and digitally oriented.
“I also want to appreciate the Edo State chairperson of MATAN, Deaconess Marina Osaghae for the well-organized training program. Which is an attestation that the leadership of Edo MATAN are seriously working hard to ensure that Edo MATAN ranks the best among others. I also want to appreciate the Project Managers for their efforts. Kudos to you all.”

Prince Omoaghe further admonished those within the formal and informal sectors within and outside Edo State to embrace the project.  “The project must succeed. Our president at the national level has brought this Association into lamplight and we all should embrace it,” he said.

In an interview with The9jaTREND, Mr. Martins Osakue, who is a Patron of MATAN, said the innovation is to move Nigeria forward and every patron is expected to support his people and ensure that tax is reduced to the bearrest minimum, thereby drag more people within the tax field. “I think is something worth supporting.”

Osakue noted: “Government needs to embark on serious enlightenment to enhance the concept.  MATAN is to fully sensitize the people at the grassroots. There should embark on major publicity and general enlightenment campaign across the nooks and crannies of Edo state. There have to be serious campaign and orientation which will enable people to feel the impact of MATAN in the state.”

High point of the activities was the presentation of Certificate of Engagements to LGA Project Coordinators and some State Exco members of MATAN including the State Public Relations Officers (PRO), Comrade Williams Babayem.

Some of the participants who spoke to The9jaTREND applauded the organizers for knowledge acquired during the training programme, assuring that the experience gained would be put to proper use.

At the end of the training exercise, the EXCO, Project Management Team, Agents and other stakeholders across the state, were captured into FIRS Data Base for proper documentation.

While, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) MATAN, Edo state Chapter, Comrade Williams Babayem, promised to give the project the widest publicity it deserves and urged participants to propagate the aims and objectives of MATAN to every nooks and crannies of the state and be better for it.