By Christian Njoku
Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has disclosed that his administration has significantly boosted the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Otu who made the assertion on Wednesday in Calabar while inaugurating the newly renovated Calabar 1 tax office was represented by Mr Mike Odere, the state’s Commissioner for Finance
It would be recalled that the Calabar 1 tax office along IBB Way in Calabar had been in a bad shape with a dilapidated building which became worse when a massive wind blew off part of the building’s roof.
The governor said generating revenue does not stop with collecting taxes from the people but also given the people the dividends of collecting the taxes.
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The governor who noted that the state’s IGR has increased by 209% in the last 18 months said the feat was achieved not by increasing taxes but because the state became more efficient in tax collection
“We collect our taxes in a way that will not affect the taxpayers negatively and we have leveraged on technology to automate all our processes which has reduced income leakages through pilfering.
Before now, we had a tax office that does not do everything, but today, it is a one-stop-shop, meaning you can do everything you want as far as tax collection is concerned, in the office,” he said.
Similarly, Chairman, Cross River IRS, Mr Edwin Okon said in Dec. 2022, the state’s IGR stood at N22 billion but as at Dec. 2024, the present administration in the state had grown the IGR to N46 billion.
While appreciating the governor for the achievement, Okon called on the staff of the service to ensure that the target given to them for 2025 was surpassed.
“For 2025 we will surprise the governor, I have told my team that will work to beat the target we were given as an agency, we are also happy that everyone can see what the governor is doing with the tax in the state,” he noted.
On his part Mr Hilary Bisong, Member representing Boki 2 in the Cross River House of Assembly commended the governor and the Cross River IRS for the developmental strides.
According to him, in the last few months, the revenue of the state had increased geometrically adding that in 2024 one of the tax offices in the state was renovated in Akamkpa.
He added that the House will continue to partner with the IRS to harmonise all the taxes in the state while urging the service not to hesitate to call on the House in areas where they desire improvements.
(NAN)
