Borno Governor Kashim Shettima
The Borno State government has inaugurated a high-powered Joint Revenue Committee with representatives of 27 councils and Ministries of Finance and Justice to meet this year’s targeted Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of N28 billion.
Inaugurating the committee at the weekend in Maiduguri, the Permanent Secretary/Chairman of Borno State Internal Revenue Services (BSIRS), Alhaji Kolomi Mutah, stated that the committee’s task was to work towards establishing a vibrant tax system to achieve socio-economic objectives of the state government.
He stated Governor Kashim Shettima’s approval to constitute and inaugurate the committee, was in recognition that taxation is a critical component of the business of government at all levels.
His words: “Under the Nigerian tax system, each state of the Federation is to establish a State Joint Revenue Committee. This is in accordance with section 92 of the Personal Income Tax Act, (PITA). The functions of the State Joint Revenue Committee as contained in Section 93 of PITA to implement decisions of the Joint Tax Board (JTB).”
He stated that the committee was also to advise the JTB, the state and councils on revenue matters and strategies to meet this year’s IGR target.
“The task before you today was to harmonise tax administration in the state while members of the public are fully enlightened on state and local governments on revenue matters. You’re also to carry out other functions as may be assigned to this committee by the JTB,” stated Mutah.
He stated the revenue committee, could also democratise tax policy and administration by extending to the grassroots for participation in tax formulation and reduction of multiples taxation in the state’s tax system.
Mutah explained: “This arrangement will reduce friction on tax matters between the state and Local governments, as well as reduce the incidence of tax evasion and avoidance; thereby widening the tax base in our state.
The committee will serve as a forum for the local government staff to exchange ideas on meeting this year’s N28 billion revenue target.
He also urged the 27 councils to inaugurate their respective revenue committees as a matter of policy and urgency to meet 2016 revenue targets, noting that because of Boko Haram insurgency in 16 council areas of the state, revenue is not expected there, as their business outfits and shops were destroyed in the last six years.
Guardian