The Executive Governor of Plateau State today inaugurated the Revenue Council and Plateau State Inland Revenue Service (PIRS) Governing Council with a charge on them to work assiduously towards changing the revenue trajectory of the State.

The Governor said they are to proffer better strategies towards improved revenue generation.

He said there is remarkable decline in revenue from the federation account on account of the fall in oil price and COVID-19 Pandemic.

He said the present government is target higher revenue for the State going forward as the era of dependence on the Federation Account is gone with the present depleting of same.

The Governor described the event as another milestone in the journey of the State towards improved revenue generation and self-sufficiency. He said the inauguration sets the tone for the full implementation of the new Plateau State (Consolidated) Revenue Law, also known as the Revenue Law 2020, which he assented to, in November 2020.

The Governor said “even before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our administration has continued to make frantic efforts towards improving the revenue profile of the State by looking inwards for more internally generated revenue. Instructively, experts’ projections indicate that Plateau State has an internal revenue capacity of more than N5 Billion Naira per month. This explains why before the disruption caused by COVID-19, our administration was able to jerk up its Internally Generated Revenue from about six hundred million naira monthly in 2015 to about nine hundred million in 2019. This shows that the projection by experts is in the right direction and we can actually do far more than we have been doing if we put our house in order”.

The Governor explained that in line with his resolve to improve the revenue profile of the State, his administration engaged Compliance Professionals Plc. (CPP), a reputable tax consortium, to help steer the transformation of revenue administration across the State, including at Local Government levels.

This engagement led to the development and implementation of the plan to effectively transit from the current state to a harmonized internal revenue generation and collection system, thereby improving efficiency and effectiveness and significantly increasing bottom lines.

He charged the 18-man Revenue Council which he Chairs to ensure that it works within its terms of reference to ensure that the revenue of the State is inproved. The Council shall be responsible for Coordinating all revenue activities in the State; Making policies, regulations and guidelines on revenue matters; Setting up structures for whistle blowing; Reviewing revenue rates; As well as identifying other sources of funding for the state.

Similarly, the Governor inaugurated the Governing Board for the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service.

Lalong appealed to all citizens to cooperate with the new revenue drive as the State has a lot of projects to carry out but needs resources. The days of looking up to Abuja according to him are over because the national purse is also depleted.

The Governor assured that every kobo will not only be accounted for, but used for projects and programmes that have direct impact on lives of the people.

Ensure accountability and better strategies towards improved revenue generation. SGS: The government has a robust policies and demonstrating the will to implement the policies.

The Governor is to serve as the Chairman of the Revenue Council with some highly professional persons including seasoned Bankers, Economists etc drawn across the State as Members.

The Chairman Plateau State Internal Revenue Services, Hon. Dashe Dasogot Arlat is to superintend the Plateau State Inland Revenue Service Governing Board.

Membership of the Council is as follows:
a. Prof. Danladi Abok Atu, Secretary to the Government of the State – Secretary to the Council
b. Commissioner for Finance (Member)
c. Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development(Member)
d. Commissioner for Lands, Survey & Town Planning (Member)
e. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry (Member)
f. Commissioner for Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development (Member)
i. Commissioner for Tourism (Member)
j. Commissioner for Transport (Member)
k. Commissioner for Water Resources (Member)
l. Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning (Member)
m. Commissioner for Justice (Member)
n. Chairman, Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (Member)
o. Plateau State Traditional Council (Member)
p. Mr. Ibrahim Puri (Member)
r. Mr. Miyen Swomen (Member)
s. Dr. Nancy Katu Ogundimu (representing Civil Societies) (Member)
t. Bashir Shuaibu Jibrin (representing the Informal Sector) (Member)

Members of the Plateau Inland Revenue Service (PIRS) Governing Board include:
a. Mr. Dashe Arlat Dasogot – Chairman
b. Prof. Danladi Abok Atu, Secretary to the Government of the State – Member
c. Barr. Chrysantus Ahmadu, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Plateau State – Member
d. Mr. Ishaku Dauda (Southern Zone) – Member
e. Mr. B.S Moltok (Central Zone) – Member
f. Mrs. Sarah Ishaya Afan (Northern Zone) – Member
i. Barr. Mrs. Rahila Olu-Silas – Secretary to the Board

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Gov. Lalong Urges Newly Inaugurated Revenue Council/PIRS Governing Board to Work Towards Changing Revenue Trajectory of the State