Glowing Tribute To Andrew Ayabam On His Birthday.

As Andy Ayabam[Chairman Benue Inland Revenue Service] celebrate his birthday today,we join all Tiv sons and daughters to wish him a HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

A tribute to Andrew Ayabam:

The 2011 general elections; and in particular, the entry of Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugbah into the contest for position of Governor Benue State in that election, has introduced into Benue politics deep divisions along party lines, with respective party loyalists or sympathisers engaged in what may be described as a political divide along party lines in a manner never previously witnessed in the history of elections in Benue State. Almost two years after that electoral battle fought right up to the precincts of the apex court of the land, emotions remain very high within the state and with various actors still very much engaged in political brick-bat along their preferred party lines.
Against the background of this scenario it is perhaps an act of political immaturity, or downright insanity; for an individual clearly identified with one side of the political divide, to cross party lines and pay tribute to a personality on the opposite side of the political divide. Nevertheless, I like to take the liberty to to pay glowing tribute to my childhood friend Andrew Ayabam, Executive Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue Services (BIRS), Benue State, who today is celebrating yet another year in his chequered life.
Prior to Andrew’s assumption of office as Executive Chairman very little was known of BIRS, then known as Revenue Board. Monthly income generation by this institution hovered around 100 Million but certainly never exceeded 120 Million. Since assumption of office Andrew has jacked this up to well over a Billion naira. Just a little less than a year in office it is to the credit of Andrew that the Revenue Law 2010 is now in place to provide a legal framework for the work of the Board. This he capped up with a relocation of the corporate offices of the Board to a more befitting location to reflect its new identity. Ten new additional offices have also been built within the period, thus making it the first time since the creation of Benue state in 1976 that the revenue office, by whatsoever name called, would own or construct its own offices. From the twenty two he inherited Andrew has grown the offices of the Board to a whooping forty four all with modern furnishing and office equipment. Little wonder BIRS has recently been adjudged by Nigerian Tax authorities to be the most ICT compliant revenue office in the federation.
Quite apart from office accommodation transportation within BIRS has also received a major boost courtesy of Andrew. From a fleet of only two functional cars the Board now boasts of sixteen vehicles of diverse kind and fifty motorbikes. In view of the strategic importance of human resources to any organisation Andrew has made this yet another critical area of investment. From a total staff strength of one hundred and seventy the board now has a staff strength of over two thousand most of whom have benefitted from local and international capacity development programmes put in place by the Board. Salaries and emoluments are promptly settled to boost staff morale. But most importantly, and like I stated previously, revenue generation profile of the state has been substantially improved upon within the last three years, and this has had the effect of enhancing tax awareness in a manner never previously imagined in Benue . Undoubtedly, BIRS is the most discussed government agency in Benue today and certainly the brightest light, in my view, of the Suswam administration.
Aside from this level of professionalism that has been brought to bear on the operations of BIRS Andrew has within a very short time made a very positive contribution to the development of small and medium enterprises in the state thus contributing to the reduction of unemployment in the state. Although primarily intended as profit making outfits Andrew has demonstrated through the establishment of his private businesses that there is a lot we could do individually or collectively do to contribute to the growth of the economy of our dear state. This is particularly instructive for a state were public office holders would rather invest their resources in lavish and ostentatious lifestyles that are hardly supportable once they have left office. I sincerely applaud his sense of imagination and most importantly his commitment to fatherland and would urge others to emulate this exemplary conduct on his part.
We could never ever forget the courage and conviction with which Andrew took on previous corporate tax evaders like Dangote Cement PLC and other Ministries Departments and Agencies previously considered untouchables in the state. How on earth can we afford to forget the single mindedness with which Andrew has blocked the loopholes hitherto existing in tax administration in Benue and the ingenuity with which he has fought acts of financial impropriety on the part of tax officers. Andrew has clearly demonstrated that success in public service is not rocket science and that all what is required is sheer determination to succeed and that square pegs have no place elsewhere but in square holes.
In the face of all these it is a matter of supreme irony that within the last few months the rumour mills have been awash with information to the effect that Andrew has become the latest victim of political rivalry and intrigues of the worst kind. There isnt a better a more fitting description for this well orchestrated campaign of calumny aimed only at disgracing him out of office but that it is an act of duplicity so ill-concieved and lacking in skill and imagination that it had become known from its very inception.

Tribute by 
Barr Mike Utsaha 
Sent to Ate u tiv,Tivnet And imongo i tiv groups


...................................................................................................................................................................Another tribute 

Happy Birthday to An Administrator, A Reformer, An Achiever - Mr. ANDREW AYABAM.

The Man who has re-defined tax administration, re-invented tax & revenue generation & re-branded the traditional Board of Internal Revenue into what we now k

now as Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) ...I salute you on this special occasion of your birthday!

Among others, your feat includes:
-Facilitated the BIRS Law 2010
-Achieved a robust Revenue Base
-Recruited about 2000 Benue graduates
-Enhanced tax payers awareness
-Established a robust ICT infrastructure & facilities

This has made BIRS a national Best Practice organisation & a model in tax administration in Nigeria.

From Ochi Marx OJ

There are many tributes and messages for Andy.If you wish to send a shout out to Andy please do so here as he will read you now before 12midnight.