By Israel Adamu, Jos
The Plateau State Government has announced a historic rise in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), surpassing ₦40 billion for the first time in 2025, as fiscal reforms aimed at easing the burden on taxpayers begin to yield positive results.
The Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Jos, where its Executive Chairman, Dr. Jim Wayas, reviewed the agency’s performance from 2022 to 2025 and unveiled revenue projections for 2026.
Dr. Wayas described the briefing as an annual performance review to evaluate achievements, challenges and the impact of policy reforms on revenue generation across the state.
According to him, PSIRS achieved 94 per cent of its budgeted revenue target in 2025, marking the highest performance since the agency’s establishment and contributing significantly to the ₦40 billion IGR milestone.
He noted, however, that revenue performance among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) recorded mixed outcomes. While MDAs achieved 100 per cent of their targets in 2023, the first year of the current administration, performance dropped to 77 per cent in 2024 and further declined to 70 per cent in 2025.
Dr. Wayas explained that PSIRS has intensified operational reforms, including the full automation of revenue processes and the elimination of cash collections, to block leakages and improve efficiency.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that the service has set an ambitious ₦65 billion revenue target for 2026, stressing that the strategy would focus on expanding the tax base by capturing previously untaxed individuals and businesses, rather than increasing tax rates for compliant taxpayers.
He acknowledged persistent challenges in some sectors, particularly mining, which falls largely under federal jurisdiction. To address this, he said PSIRS is tracking mining operators through banking transactions with a view to integrating them into the state’s tax net.
On the issue of multiple taxation, Dr. Wayas said new laws have been enacted to consolidate levies. He noted that while an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local governments provides for the issuance of single demand notices, implementation challenges remain.
He added that the newly enacted Plateau State Tax and Levies Act is designed to harmonise tax collection at both state and local government levels.
The PSIRS chairman also highlighted daily ticketing for tricycle operators—previously dominated by non-state actors—as a priority area. According to him, the state is working towards a unified inter-state ticketing policy using stickers and a single consultant, while addressing overlaps between state and local government authorities.
Dr. Wayas stressed that the service adopts a non-punitive approach toward compliant taxpayers, focusing on inclusion and voluntary compliance. For defaulters, he said enforcement begins with demand notices, while Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms are encouraged as quicker and more cost-effective alternatives to litigation.
He reaffirmed the Plateau State Government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency and sustainable economic growth, noting that resolving issues such as mining revenue, multiple taxation and jurisdictional overlaps may ultimately require constitutional amendments to achieve a unified national tax system.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Wayas said the administration remains committed to taxpayer-friendly policies that promote economic development and long-term fiscal stability in the state.
