Abel Leonard/ Lafia
Because of the dwindling collections and allocations from federal government, lower oil prices, and the present recession of Nigeria’s economy, Nasarawa state Governor, Engr. Abdulahi Sule has threatens to sanction Revenue / tax Violators to improve the internally generation of Revenue (IGR) in the state.
Gov. Sule gave the warning today during the opening ceremony of a two-days tax/revenue summit, at Aliyu Akwe Banquet hall, Government House, adding that with the understanding of all government agencies to ensure the passage of tax harmonization into law, his administration will execute the by sanctioning and prosecuting violators.
The chief Executive expressed satisfaction when the Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council and ALGON Chairman, Hon. Aminu Muazu Maifata, declared 100% support for the new harmonisation law, calling on other chairmen of the remaining councils, to key into the idea of the new law guiding tax collection in the state.
Engineer Sule said “it has become necessary to harmonize revenue and tax collection in the state because of the harsh economic reality of the country, with Nasarawa State continuing to witness shortfalls in revenue collection, federal allocation and fall in oil prices, even as the country goes into another economic recession”.
He further stressed that Nasarawa State has great potentials to stand on its own, with or without federal allocation, this has not been the case, hence the need to harmonize tax collections and revenue, urging officials saddled with the responsibility of tax collection to be truthful and honest in carrying out their duties.
Engr. Sule highlighted the danger of giving rooms for leakages saying “once tax payers realize there is leakage along the line, they are always willing to get their own share, thereby shortchanging government by returning lower taxes, with greedy officials pocketing their share”.
“Once we have a few people happier in a society, the few people’s happiness is going to be short lived, because until the whole society is happy, nobody will be happy”.
He also added that “the essence of you alone, collecting and accumulating wealth and leaving the rest, you will not even enjoy the wealth,” he cautioned”.
The Governor said there is no going back on the harmonization law because most of the state’s that have shown success in revenue collection like Lagos State, they have harmonized tax laws in operation.
On his part, Chairman, Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue Services, (NSIRS) Hon. Ahmed Yakubu Mohammed, commended Engineer Sule for the vision and political will to see to the passage of the harmonization law.
The chairman further disclosed that “with the coming of the Engineer Sule administration, the board has been able to increase internal revenue generation by 100 percent, with Nasarawa State rated among the fastest growing IGRs in the country
