Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has charged staff of the Benue Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, to intensify their efforts towards improving the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state to complement his administration’s developmental agenda.
Alia made the call while declaring open a two- day retreat with the theme, ‘Taxation for common good’, organized by BIRS in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria, CITN, in Makurdi.
The governor expressed dissatisfaction with the low revenue profile of the state.
Alia, who was represented by Commissioner for Finance, Hon Mike Oglegba, said urgent steps need to be taken by the management of the agency to improve the state’s IGR.
In a welcome remark, Acting Executive Chairman of BIRS, Mr Emmanuel Agema, expressed the agency’s determination to formulate policies and programmes that would leverage on the political will of the present administration to turn the situation around.
He said such a retreat for staff of the revenue agency was long over due considering the pivotal role the organization has to offer to the development of the state.
Agema charged participants to give their best to complement government efforts towards developing the state.
On his part ,Chairman of CITN, Makurdi District, Sunday Odagba, expressed appreciation to the BIRS for the collaboration and promised continued support to the agency, describing the retreat as a right step in the right direction.
