From Rashidat AbdulRahman, Minna
The Niger State Government has set a target of hitting 7.5 billion naira monthly Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, from harmonized tax collections beginning from 1st January, 2024.
This was disclosed by the Governor Umar Mohammed Bago while declaring open a 2-Day retreat on revenue harmonization in Niger State, organized by the State Internal Revenue Service held at the Royal Institute for Training and Human Capital Development, Zuma Rock Resorts, Suleja.
The Governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, further revealed that the State Revenue Service’s expectations beginning from September this year is pegged at a monthly return of 4.5 billion naira from the harmonized tax collections.
Mohammed Bago charged the participants to explore all necessary avenues of boosting government’s revenue streams starting with the harmonization of collection ot taxes by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the 25 local government councils as provided by the State Tax Administration and Consolidation Law 2022.
He explained that government has to harmonize the process of revenue collection to create synergy in IGR collection between MDAs and Local government councils, minimize leakages and loss of revenue from inefficient collection systems such as manual cash collection and the use of untrained personnel, as well as consultants and reduce incidences of multiple taxations, thus placing less burden on businesses, individuals and attract local and foreign investors among several others.
The Governor further disclosed that by this arrangement, the full implementation of the law empowering the Niger State Internal Revenue Service as the sole collector and clearing house of all taxes, levies, fees and charges due to MDAs and LGAs becomes effective.
Bago urged resource persons to ensure they do justice to all issues that would be discussed, adding that every stakeholder needs to understand their responsibilities clearly to avoid overlap and undue rivalry.
The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji and the Emir of Kagara, Malam Ahmed Garba Gunna Attahiru II, in their separate remarks assured the State Internal Revenue Service of their support.
The Chairman, Niger State Internal Revenue Service, Mohammed Madami Etsu, said experts on revenue generation and administration were invited to make presentations and contribute in articulating the way forward in revenue generation for the state at the retreat.
The retreat is organized for Commissioners, members of the State House of Assembly, Special Advisers, local government chairmen and heads of MDAs.
