Ondo Govt. Generates N10bn IGR In 11 Months

The Ondo State Board of Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR), said on Sunday that the state generated not less than N10 billion between January and November.

The Chairman of the Board, Mr Akin Akinsehinwa, who disclosed this in Akure, said that the figure was 85 per cent of the amount targeted for the year.
Mr. Akinsehinwa explained that the state had to intensify efforts on IGR because of the dwindling resources accruing to it from the Federation Account.
“We have been swimming against the tide since January because of the drastic drop in amount we get from the federation account; this has adverse effects on the economy of the state.
“Being a civil service state, this has led to irregular payment of workers’ salaries and has hindered the flow of income to the board.
“When economic activities are not booming we are constrained to adjust and slow down a bit so that we do not put too much pressure on the citizenry”, he said.
He pointed out that the amount generated came mainly from government ministries,departments and agencies.
The chairman said that the board had to go back to the drawing board on how to increase government revenue by looking at other areas.
“The board is proactive and dynamic and we are looking on how we can generate more revenue. We started with vehicle registration in June and realised a lot from it.
“We have just started enforcing the Land Use Act enacted last year by the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“We have informed the various landlords’ associations and stakeholders’ meeting had been held in that regard. The full enforcement will start either this month or in Jan. 2016”, he said.
Akinsehinwa added that the state government had decided to set up a special court to try tax offenders.
He said, however, that the court had yet to begin sitting because government wanted to ensure that qualified and committed personnel were drafted to the court.
The chairman also appealed to the people to endeavour to pay their tax, warning that defaulters would not be spared prosecution.
“The era of tax evasion is gone and the era of aggressive tax drive is here; whoever that does not want a collision with government should exercise his/her civic duties”, he warned.