Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS) aims to collect N22 billion as internally generated revenue in 2024.

Its chairperson, Aisha Adamu-Yaro, made the declaration in Gombe on Saturday after she led members of the GIRS management team on a courtesy visit to Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

“The plan includes offering online tax payment options and establishing more tax offices throughout the state.

“This will bolster trust and efficiency. We plan to leverage modern technology for enhanced revenue collection,’’ she told journalists after the visit.

Ms Adamu-Yaro said while the target was ambitious, the continuous support and political will of the governor would motivate the service to attain the target and break the record in revenue collection.

She noted that the service exceeded its 2023 target by a remarkable 15 per cent when it collected an all-time high internally generated revenue (IGR) of more than N15 billion.

“With the support we received from the governor, the service has raised the bar for revenue generation.

“We have set up an ambitious target of N22 billion for the year 2024, a significant 100 per cent increase over the previous target,’’ she said.

According to her, the service will intensify efforts at tax assessment, collection, and remittances to the government by deploying modern technology for efficiency and accountability.

Ms Adamu-Yaro stressed that tax revenue played a crucial role in supporting vital development projects, citing how effective revenue collections in other states had helped to improve their IGR for financial independence and liberation.

She solicited the the cooperation of the media to raise awareness about levies, fines tax payments and collections.

“We aim to work hand-in-hand with the media to educate the public about the importance of taxation and its role in funding essential public services,’’ she stressed.

While acknowledging public concerns regarding potential tax mismanagement, the chairman assured residents that GIRS was committed to absolute transparency in line with Mr Yahaya’s policies and reforms.

She also unveiled plans to facilitate a seamless tax collection process in line with Mr Yahaya’s focus on accountability.

While stating that the present administration had leveraged tax collection to initiate and implement projects that had impacted the lives of citizens, Ms Adamu-Yaro appealed to residents to reciprocate by voluntarily paying their taxes.

“Pay your taxes voluntarily to reciprocate the government’s gesture at providing social amenities and services for the development of the state,’’ she admonishes the Gombe state public.

 (NAN)