Plateau state Government has collected N2.18 billion from internally generated revenue in the state for the first quarter of the year. Mr Samuel Pam who is the State Internal Revenue Service Chairman stated so in Jos on Tuesday.

The chairman said that it was “not so encouraging” as he said that the agency staff would be encouraged to show more obligation to their duty. He stated that the highest amount of N801.99 million was realised in January while the lowest amount of N683.09 million was collected in February.

Plateau state Government has collected N2.18 billion from internally generated revenue in the state for the first quarter of the year. Mr Samuel Pam who is the State Internal Revenue Service Chairman stated so in Jos on Tuesday.

The chairman said that it was “not so encouraging” as he said that the agency staff would be encouraged to show more obligation to their duty. He stated that the highest amount of N801.99 million was realised in January while the lowest amount of N683.09 million was collected in February.

Pam said “Our desire and hope is to maintain the one billion naira monthly collection mark recorded in December 2013, and anything below that is not encouraging at all”. He added that the agency was aiming higher by initiating measures to block revenue leakages that will enable the state government reach its target and provide services to its citizens. He warned corporate organisations and institutions not to engage in tax evasion as it was “criminal and destructive”.

The chairman said that the service will continue negotiating with corporate organisations such as banks, federal institutions, industries, hotels and other business outfits to remit taxes to the government. He encouraged people to keep paying their taxes and added that the agency will not hesitate to prosecute individual or corporate organisations that failed to do so.

He said “If all these institutions, firms and bodies, especially schools and private hospitals and clinics, should remit all Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) deductions from staff salaries to us, our revenue base will improve”.

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Plateau state generates N2.18 billion in first quarter of 2014