Kogi lifts monthly IGR from ₦750m to ₦3bn

By Richard Elesho

Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Sule Enehe, says the agency has raised the state’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from less than ₦1 billion in 2021 to ₦3 billion in 2024.

Enehe made the disclosure on Thursday in Lokoja during a Stewardship Forum organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council.

He appealed to residents to continue to pay their taxes promptly, noting that the current figure already surpasses the IGR projections for the first half of the year.

“When I assumed office in November 2021, monthly IGR stood at about ₦750 million. Today, through effective tax administration and improved service delivery, we have grown that figure to ₦3 billion,” he said.

He credited the progress to the commitment of his management team, who ensure that 10 per cent of IGR is judiciously utilised for staff salaries and operational costs.

He also stressed the importance of staff motivation, citing investments in capacity building, welfare packages, and promotions based on seniority.

On the role of technology, Enehe explained that digitisation has been key to blocking leakages and improving efficiency in revenue collection. He further expressed readiness to partner with journalists in publicising the agency’s activities.

Looking ahead, the KGIRS boss expressed optimism about the new Nigeria Revenue Tax Act, scheduled to take effect in January 2025, which he said would harmonise tax laws and reduce incidences of double taxation.

Enehe also praised Governor Ahmed Ododo for his leadership and consistent support in helping the agency meet its revenue targets.

Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Segun Salami, said the Stewardship Forum was designed to give public officials a platform to share their achievements and challenges in governance and service delivery.