The Niger State Government said it planned to increase its internally generated revenue (IGR) to N1 billion monthly from the current sum of about N500 million.
Banking on a landmark initiative with key technology consultants, the state is hoping to reclaim tax revenues purportedly paid by Niger State border residents to the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja instead of the state.
Speaking in Minna during the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with tax consultants engaged for the task, the Commissioner for Finance, Malam Ibrahim Balarabe, regretted that most of the people working in Abuja actually reside in Suleja, which is part of the state but remit their taxes to Abuja.
He said: “The revenues should’ve come to Niger State instead of to Abuja. So what we have to do now is to ensure that the revenues going to Abuja come to Niger State. And I believe if we are able to block that leakage, we are going to have very serious increase in our collection.”
He said the state has no direct financial obligation to the five consultants engaged adding that they were only entitled to about 5 to 10 percent of the revenue collection.
He said: “It is our hope that once this assignment is concluded our revenue base should exceed N1 billion monthly. As at today, our IGR is hovering between N400 million and N500 million.”
The Managing Director/Chief Executive, FourCore Technology Solutions Limited, Mr. Mohammed Ciroma whose company is saddled with the task of reclaiming lost taxes due to the state said though the job would require lots of boots on the ground, it would provide employment opportunities to citizens in the state.
