Plateau Govt. generates N2.5bn as IGR in first quarter
NAN-HE-13
Revenue
Jos, May 25, 2017 (NAN) The Plateau Government has generated N2.5 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first quarter of 2017.
Mr Dashe Arlat, Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos that the greater percentage of the revenue was from PAYE.
He explained that the revenues were from derived from levies and charges from MDAs and the PSIRS.
Arlat, who described the collection as “very huge’’ and “encouraging’’ attributed it to the hard work and commitment of civil servants in the state as well as the recent reforms carried out at the PSIRS.
“Even though we are not there yet, we have introduced various strategies including `Smart Collection,’ a technology that fast track issuance of Tax Identification Numbers (TIN) to tax payers and quick mode of payment.
“We also employed about 500 Ad hoc staff, whom we have sent out into the street to capture tax payers, especially those within the informal sector, ’’ the Chairman explained.
According to him, the new technology adopted has helped at checkmating wastage and the service intends to recruit more ad hoc staff to cover the informal sector.
Giving a breakdown, Arlat said that in January N877, 88 million was collected while in February and March N781, 75 and N825, 85 million were generated.
He said that the amount generated in the first quarter of 2017 was about N485 million higher than the N2. 06 billion realized in the corresponding period in 2016 and N643 million higher than the N1.84 billion in 2015.
The PSIRS boss commended the staff of the service for their dedication to duty, saying their performance was appreciated by the state government.
Arlat said that the PSIRS would soon begin enumeration of houses both within and outside the Bukuru-Jos Metropolis for the collection of ground rents.
“We believe that by the time we conclude numbering all the houses in Plateau and begin collection of ground rents along with what comes in from the informal sector, our revenue will tremendously improve.
“Our target is to hit above N1 billion as our monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) toward strengthening and improving government’s provision of basic social amenities to the citizens of the State,’’ he said.
The chairman said that the response from the tax payers in the state had been encouraging.
Arlat attributed the positive response of residents in the state to the recent enlightenment campaign the service embarked on.
He appealed to tax payers to continue to ensure they fulfill their civic responsibilities to the government so that the government can reciprocate by providing the needed infrastructure for their benefit. (NAN)
TYC/AOS/AFA
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Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Felix Ajide