Borno State Internal Revenue Board has generated N2.8 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2024.

The Chairman of the Borno State Revenue Board, Professor Bello Ibrahim, stated this on Friday at his maiden press conference at the conference hall of the Board in Maidugiri.

Prof. Ibrahim said the Service collected N1.7 billion revenues in January while N1.1 billion had been generated from Feb. 1 to Feb. 15, 2024.

He said Revenue Board also generated N19.4 billion from ministries, departments and agencies as well as the 27 local government councils of the state in 2023.

According to him, such successes were achieved as a result of the newly introduced reform system and strategies he brought into the service for zero tolerance, transparency and accountability in the entire process in the overall interest of the state government and not to witch hunt anybody neither being malicious.

“The board has also digitalized and mapped out all it’s revenue generating centers and screened all the locally generated revenues collectors and ad hoc staff by way of cross examining the total number engaged to mobilize , monitor and collect revenues physically by the past management of the board, dropping about 25% of the casual staff to sensitize the staff and sanitize the system.

Professor Ibrahim added that, for the first time since his assumption of office in July 2023, with the zeal and renewed hope, commitment, determination and transparency established during his tenure of six months, the revenue base of the state locally generated has continuously been increasing and improving systemically even during the ember month of December when revenue generation was always dropping and low in the past due to high rate and number of defaulters, this time around , the monthly revenue generation was increasingly going high rather.last year ending and this year.

“With the new reform strategies and mobilization as well as advocacy and public enlightenment programmes in radio and television stations, tax prayers confidence and trust has increased alongside regular payment of their taxes in all the three categories of tax payments comprising of personal tax, business premises tax and trade tax which are all being paid installment at ease and grace or relief of three times per annum with 50% first or initial tax payment and subsequently, 25% payment twice before the year runs out and to begin a new payment procedures

He explained further that the successes recorded so far we’re imaginary and born out of the new systematic procedures and processes of doing things, the digitalized process of using POS or Banks or Mobile Banking to effect payments of all three categories of taxes easily and simple without any stress and doubt of payment as alerts are being received instantly in every payment made at the designated centers and banks as well as sources which have been computerized even at the local government areas of the state.

He enjoined the entire citizens of Borno to have confidence and trust in the administration of Governor Zulum on locally revenue generation, projects, and programmes execution and implementation as well as transparency drive of public funds accountability in comparison with the annual budgetary provisions and allocations to sectoral and departmental activities in the general interest of the people.