News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Benue Internal Revenue Service BIRS, Mr. Sunday Odagba, has said that the service generates the sum of N2.2 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) on monthly basis.
He maintained that the achievement was possible as a result of the effective revenue generation strategies being adopted by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
Mr. Odagba who disclosed this during a chat with newsmen in his office in Makurdi, posited that there is drastic progress of revenue generation in the State from what it used to be in the past.
He explained that as at January to December 2024, his office generated N16 billion as a result of shortfall, while before he took over, they were having a monthly average revenue generation of N1.8 billion
According to him, “from September 2024 to date, we are having average revenue generation of N2.2 billion and we are going higher”.
” Because of that, we are strengthening our enforcement department to address illegal fees. We are in contact with security agencies. Once we get information about any illegal fees collection point, we swing into action and arrest the person.
“We have made several arrests but for this year January, we have made 10 arrests. Most of these people, once you arrest them, they get bailed because it is a bailable offence and they will change locations and go to other places to continue with their act of illegalities”.
“This year, we have served demand notice to business owners over the tax assessments we have conducted so far for them to pay. This demand notice has elapsing date. Once you don’t pay and the date elapsed, the ministry of trade industry and investment will close down your business.
“It is expected that if you open a new business, you must register that business with ministry of trade, industry and investment with 21 days and pay what we called business premises registration fee to BIRS.
“If your business is registered, and you failed to pay the business premises registration fee, for every day you don’t pay, there is a penalty fee of N100. And it accrues for everyday you default. So, once the ministry of trade industry and investment issue you that notice, you give us copy and we go for collections.
“We have secured court order to seal off companies or business premises that default in the payment of their taxes. Since I came on board, we have sealed oracle farms, intercontinental college and so many other fuel stations.
” In most cases, some of these defaulters are just very stubborn. You will served demand notice, they will not pay or even reply to your notice on why they didn’t paid. Some, when you serve them, they will reply and ask you to give them time or even pay immediately or follow the installment plans designed for them”, Odagba stated.
Speaking on the new federal government tax reform bill that is before the national assembly, the acting chairman described it as a good omen that would bring great relief to the poor masses.
“In line with the reform bill, these other charges, we are going to beef up collection processes on taxes.
“This is because what the federal government is after, is personal income taxes and company income taxes. They want to grant leave for businesses to strive, while the poor masses would also have a relief. So, on our part, we can cover up that aspect with such user charges and fees. For instance, the agency like BENSESA which evacuates refuse. The agency generates revenue from collection of refuse in the town.
“There is a rate attached to collection of refuse and as people put refuse in their doorsteps, they pay and BENSESA evacuate them. Those ones are user charges, not income charges. One is paying for a service being rendered”, he said.
