Asaba — DELTA State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said his administration is not going to increase taxes despite the global economic meltdown.

He said it was his wish to see the people of Delta State enjoy the dividends of democracy with ease.

Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting on the payment of taxes held in Asaba, the Governor, however, directed civil servants, teachers and local government emplo-yees, among others, to ensure that they pay their taxes correctly and as well demand for their tax clearance certificates.

He said, "my administra-tion will not increase the pains of tax payers. I am going to partner with them. I like to remind our people that the more internal revenue we get the more our Federal Allocation, so we shall improve tax collection gradually."

He charged tax payers to "demand for tax clearance certificate. It is essential for you and you need it for both political and administrative purposes. In fact, I am demanding for my own and let the Board give it to me now."

Explaining that the direc-tive has become necessary in order to plug all leakages in the internal revenue generation process, Uduag-han said the present step would expose ministries, agencies and parastatals collecting taxes without remitting them.

He added that his admini-stration will flush out all fraudulent people in the system so that the internal revenue profile of the state will increase.