By Fred Oghenesivbe
Delta state government has put measures in place to effectively capture the informal sector into her tax net with a view to increasing Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, to N12 Billion monthly in 2024.
Executive Director of Operations, Delta State Internal Revenue Services, Dr (Barr) Frank Nwugo, made the disclosure while speaking as a panelist during the 2023 DOPF Convention and Lecture Series on Wednesday in Asaba, saying that revenue generated will be judiciously spent by government to upscale the living standards and economic wellbeing of citizens of the state.
Nwugo noted that the state is in a new phase of accelerated development under the visionary leadership of the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, who is unrepentantly determined to advance Delta in multifaceted dimensions, as encapsulated in his MORE agenda.
He disclosed that the state current IGR is between N6billion and N7billion monthly, but that the new board under the leadership of Chief Solomon Ighrakpata, is working round the clock to hit a monthly target of N12billion next year and beyond.
He said operations at the state internal revenue office had been digitized, making it possible for tax payers to generate tax clearance certificates online, and within three working days, while assuring that Delta shall remain the best destination for investors and tourists, and called on prominent Deltans, home and abroad, to invest in the state with a firm promise that government would continue to partner with credible high profile investors and multinational corporations to boost Foreign Direct Investments, FDI.
In the same vein, a legal icon and member of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon (Barr) Bridget Anyafulu, urged the state government and the Internal Revenue Office to train and retrain revenue collection consultants, so as to drastically reduce corruption in the system.
She noted that revenue collectors are critical stakeholders, and until they are properly trained by the Internal Revenue Office, government may not reap the full benefits of their services to the state, pointing out that through regular training and enhanced digitization systems, their activities can be remotely and proactively monitored to a large extent, so as to ensure that government is not unscrupulously shortchanged, while collection agents and consultants corners the larger percentage of revenue generated by them.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Delta Online Publishers Forum, Mr Emmanuel Enebeli, said the choice of this year’s theme: Fiscal Policy And Taxation – Balancing Revenue Generation And Economic Growth” aligns with the Forum’s commitment to contribute significantly to the Country’s development, through the prism of economic policies and their practical implementations.
He posited that economic growth hinges on investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and innovation, noting that all demands substantial funding, which is why as a media organisation, DOPF decided to play pivotal roles in shaping public discourse and awareness; foster comprehensive dialogue on these intricate matters, translating complex fiscal policies into understandable information for the public.
Speaking to newsmen after the lecture series, Executive Assistant on Communication and Orientation to Delta State Governor, Dr (Barr) Wilfred Latimore Oghenesivbe, described the organisers, DOPF as partners in progress with the state government, a relationship that will continue to grow, and be beneficial to all concerned.
He noted that online publishers in the state have consistently maintained high ethical standards and professionalism in their discharge of their constitutionally assigned responsibilities as members of the fourth estate of the realm.
He added that some members of the group worked vigorously with the State Directorate of PDP Campaign Council during the 2023 general elections; reporting and publishing news items and articles that helped to project the MORE agenda of governor Oborevwori to Deltans and eligible voters.
Oghenesivbe assured that governor Oborevwori’s administration shall continue to effectively balance revenue generation with economic growth, as can be seen from the quality of infrastructure projects that is ongoing across the three senatorial districts, wherein for the first time in the history of Delta State, construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, was engaged to construct three flyovers and road expansion projects as a true reflection of good governance.
He urged Deltans to continue to support and pray for the governor, who he described as a forthright leader, a super administrator, detribalized Deltan that is determined to passionately and prudently fulfil his social contract with citizens of the state.
