The Plateau State Internal Revenue Service has commended taxpayers in the state for their compliance to payment of taxes and other fees, which enabled revenue generation of N31.14 billion  as at March 9.

Jim Wayas, the chairman of PSIRS, gave the commendation on Friday in Jos during a stakeholders engagement on its MOU with the 17 LGAs to enhance revenue generation in Plateau.

PSIRS reportedly generated N31.14 billion in 2024, the highest IGR figure so far recorded in the state. 

In 2023, the state realised N25.8 billion as IGR.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang has given the PSIRS a target of N52 billion as IGR for 2025 following its performance in 2024.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Wayas urged tax payers and residents yet to be captured in the tax net not to relent so as to provide revenue for development of the Plateau.

“The first thing we did when we came on board was to try to block leakages. We relied heavily on technology to cover leakages in revenue generation. Then again, we also used data to drive tax collection. We all know that data is the new oil, so we used data to drive even the collection of tax.

“These are some of the things we are going to replicate even at the local government level, which will help us to understand which local government contributes what in terms of food stuff, livestock, mining and so on.

“And we are making sure that this will help us even bring succour to our taxpayers, especially as this is the taxpayers month. We are celebrating them and their efforts towards the landmark achievement of last year’s IGR.

“So let me use this opportunity to say thank you to all our wonderful taxpayers. You did well in 2024. We are expecting you to do more in 2025,” he said.

Mr Wayas said that with the collaboration of the 17 LGAs PSIRS would identify areas that require critical investment so as to boost development across every segment of the state.

He stressed that the service was not trying to take over the jobs of the local government personnel, but to collaborate with them so as to move the state forward.

Speaking on behalf of the local government chairmen, Bennard Alkali, chairman of Mikang Local Government, expressed hope that with the collaboration with PSIRS, more revenue would be generated in the state.

“This is the first time in the history of Plateau State that the Internal Revenue Service is signing a memorandum of understanding with the 17 local government councils in order to synergise to collect revenues.

“If you have been a good student of history on the Plateau, you will understand that with the emergence of the new chairman of the Internal Revenue Service, there has been an increase in the revenue generation.

“It means that there is something that has been put on the table that is new from the previous ones.

“It has also been established that the local government does not have the complete capacity to be able to collect taxes, therefore, in synergy with the state, we are very hopeful that a new dawn in terms of revenue collection has come to stay in Plateau.

”And I guarantee you, in less than one year, the success story will be out there for the public to see,” he said. 

(NAN)