The Acting Executive Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Sunday Odagba, has revealed that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) now stands at an average of N2.2 billion per month.
Speaking to journalists in his office on Wednesday, Odagba attributed this increase to the strategic revenue collection measures introduced by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration. He stated that by December 2024, the state had accumulated a total of N16 billion, a significant rise from the previous monthly average of N1.8 billion before he assumed office.
Odagba noted that since September 2024, the state had consistently maintained an average monthly revenue of N2.2 billion and expressed confidence in the potential for further growth.
To sustain this progress, he explained that BIRS had intensified efforts to curb illegal fee collection and was working closely with security agencies to identify and dismantle unauthorised revenue collection points. He disclosed that multiple arrests had been made, including ten in January alone. However, he acknowledged that since such offences were bailable, offenders often relocated to evade enforcement.
Commenting on the proposed federal tax reform bill before the National Assembly, Odagba described it as a welcome development that would provide economic relief for the public. He elaborated that the reforms aimed to reduce the burden on businesses by prioritising personal and company income taxes while reinforcing user charges and service fees at the state level.
