PLATEAU REVENUE BOARD ADVICES LGA CHAIRMEN, MDAs, OTHERS ON IMPROVED IGR

Plateau Revenue Board  Advises LGA  Chairmen, MDAs, Others  on Improved IGR

The Executive Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS),Mr.Dashe Arlat Dasoghot, Friday  Advised the Chairmen of the 17 Local Government Councils and MDAs  to put more efforts into generating revenue internally to ensure that  Government’s plans and projects are beneficial to the people.

The Executive  Chairman of   PSIRS made this known while speaking at the 2021 Plateau state Public sector strategic engagement on taxation .

"PSIRS is poised to explore all areas expected of us to ensure that we generate good revenue that could enable the government fulfill its promises to the Plateau citizens", he said.

In his words " In order to facilitate the process , the Plateau state Internal Revenue service which is vested the responsibility of identifying ,compilation and storage of a comprehensive and easily retrievable taxation data base,has established the modus operandi in that regards , " We have begun and shall continue to interface and guide all MDAs and local governments in the state to optimize their revenue generation and collection transparent cooperation by leaderships of  of Ministries, Departments Agencies MDAs and Local governments is therefore crucial in this regard .

"We had expanded the capturing and profiling of more individuals and entities into the tax net through direct engagement, and with the application of relevant technology. Our efforts resulted in significant improvements on the internal revenue yield of the state, such that Plateau State was adjudged one of the top-ten states in Nigeria that added the most in its Internally Generated Revenue in 2020, with a total collection of N2.64billion, compared to 2019. "

He further said that The reality however is that, when you consider the enormous responsibilities government desires to discharge and deliver to the people, and against the backdrop of drastic drops in the monthly federal allocations, this 2020 figure is certainly a drop in the ocean. "Yet another fact however is that there are huge potentials and contributions that can come from MDAs and local government to the general pool, and we should agree here, today, and now, to bring these on board in order to support the administration to truly make a difference. 

"The report of a survey we commissioned sometimes last year indicated that we could indeed do more, if all the processes, structures and technological gaps noticed in MDAs and local governments are plugged and fine-tuned. It is clear therefore, that it is the responsibility of Ministries, Departments Agencies and Local Government Councils, under the new law, to tailor their operational function and mandates with the core functions of PSIRS. "

Mr. Dashe Arlat,  who further  said that the Service would soon embark on an ”explosive” revenue drive, to increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) said the service had adopted a strategy that would entail massive taxpayer registration, agent registration, improved record-keeping, and data management.

"In order to ensure revenue returns and notices, there would also be increased revenue assessments. to enhance payment and remittance and reconciliation, in addition to encouraging prompt objection and appeal processes, debt collection, and recovery profiling."

"Let me assure you of the commitment of the board to delivery of an efficient ,transparent and accountable service "

He appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the new revenue drive in the state 

"I urge  citizens of the state to pay their taxes regularly to enable the government to discharge its responsibilities to the people."