In an interview on Tuesday, the Acting Chairman, Plateau State Inland Revenue Service(PSIRS), Mr Dashe Arlat disclosed to newsmen in Jos that the Government has generated N6.6b billion internal revenue between January and September in spite of the economic recession.

The Chairman considered this achievement as “very satisfactory” and “encouraging”, expressing happiness over the sudden increase in internally generated revenue, with PSIRS having netted an average of N700 monthly in spite of the biting economic recession.

 “By keeping this tempo in nine months, we have succeeded in collecting what was realised in the whole of last year (2015) in the sum of N6.93 billion.

“We are pretty sure that by God’s grace before December ending, we should be clocking N9 billion as revenue collection for the year 2016,” he said.

Giving further analysis of the collection within the period, Arlat said that PSIRS garnered N5.05 billion while Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) realized N1.55 billion.

Analysis of the data indicates that the lowest revenue of N597. 9 million was recorded in February while the highest of N855.5 million was recorded in March.

Arlat disclosed that very soon a service provider, engaged by the state government, would commence enumeration of all taxable adults through bio-metric capturing system.

He explained that the target was the informal sector under various ministries such as commerce, transport, tourism, agriculture, health and education aimed at harmonizing the revenue collection and erasing double or multiple taxation in the state.

“By the time the service provider commences work around the state, we shall do away with multiple or double taxation, which have usually been the complaints of a sizeable number of tax payers,’’ he stated.

The chairman called for understanding and cooperation from all taxable adults and corporate bodies ensuring prompt payment of their tax to avoid the wrath of the law.

He said that for some months now, defaulters were being tried at the special court assigned to PSIRS by the government to ensure that what was due to the government was collected.

ViewPointNigeria Analysis

This is an incredible feat by the Simon Lalong administration. Generating such a large amount N6.6 billion in 9 months is the highest sum raised in the history of PSIRS. The revenue collection methodology and implementation plan shows that the recession is making PLSG become inventive in seeking ways of raising money etc.

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PSIRS rakes in N6.6 Billion in 9 Months