As part of its reform, Borno State Internal Revenue Service has introduced instalment payment to encourage tax payment.
It also digitalized payment system through banks and point of sale, POS operators.
This was disclosed by Professor Bello Ibrahim, chairman of the state revenue board in a press briefing on Friday in Maiduguri, capital of the state.
‘With the new reform strategies and mobilization as well as advocacy and public enlightenment programs in radio and television stations , tax prayers confidence and trust has increased alongside regular payment of their taxes in all the three categories of tax payments comprising of personal tax, business premises tax and trade tax which are all being paid installment at ease and grace or relief of three times per annum with 50% first or initial tax payment and subsequently, 25% payment twice before the year runs out and to begin a new payment procedures
‘The board has also digitized and mapped out all its revenue generating centers and screened all the locally generated revenues collectors and ad hoc staff by way of cross examining the total number engaged to mobilize, monitor and collect revenues physically by the past management of the board, dropping about 25% of the casual staff to sensitize the manpower and sanitize the system,’ Ibrahim said.
According to him, the reform has been paying off.
In less than two months (January to February 14, 2024) the board generated over N2.2 billion.
Out of which, he said, ‘N1. 2 billion was generated within 14 days.’
He explained that in 2023 also, the board generated N19.4 billion from ministries, departments and agencies as well as the 27 local government councils of the state in 2023.
He called on the citizens of Borno to have confidence and trust in the administration of Governor Zulum on local revenue generation, projects and programs execution and implementation.
The chairman also commended the effort of the governor for the 2024 budget.
He described the budget as promising and a challenge for the internal revenue generation institutions to be able meet up with the budget expectation.
He thanked his staff and all taxpayers for their support and cooperation to the board.
