The Benue Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, has raked in N2.2b as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, from December to January.
This was disclosed by the Acting Executive Chairman, BIRS, Mr. Sunday Odagba in a chat with newsmen on Wednesday in Makurdi.
He maintained that the success was part of the deliberate revenue generation strategies by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration.
Odagba said that there was drastic increase in revenue generation in the State contrary to what was obtained in the past.
According to him, “from September 2024 to date, we are having an average revenue generation of N2.2 billion and we are going higher.
“Because of that, we are strengthening our enforcement department to address illegal fees.
“We are in contact with security agencies. Once we get information about any illegal fees collection point, we swing into action and arrest the person.
“We have made several arrests but for this year January, we have made 10 arrests.
“Most of these people, once you arrest them, they get bailed because it is a bailable offence and they will change location and go to other places to continue with their act.
“This year, we have served demand notice to business owners over the tax assessments we have conducted so far for them to pay.
“This demand notice has elapsing date. Once you don’t pay and the date elapses, the ministry of Trade, Industry and investment will close down your business.
“It is expected that if you open a new business, you must register that business with ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment within 21 days and pay what we called business premises registration fee to BIRS.
“If your business is registered, and you failed to pay the business premises registration fee, for every day you didn’t pay, there is a penalty fee of N100. And it accrues for everyday you default.
“We have secured court order to seal off companies or business premises that default in the payment of their taxes.
“Since I came on board, we have sealed oracle farms, intercontinental college and so many other fuel stations,” Odagba stated.
Speaking on the federal government’s tax reform bill that is before the national assembly, the acting chairman described it as a good omen that would bring great relief to the poor masses.
