Kogi govt targets N6bn monthly IGR to fund salaries, economic growth

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has disclosed that the state is targeting ₦6 billion in monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to fund salaries and economic growth.

The Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju Idris Asiru, disclosed this while representing the governor during the 2025 budget breakdown held at the Government House.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring that salaries are paid exclusively from IGR within the next six months, without imposing unnecessary financial burdens on citizens and small businesses.

Hon. Idris stated that Kogi State’s annual IGR as of December 2024 stood at approximately ₦27.73 billion, averaging ₦2.3 billion per month, a significant improvement from ₦6.5 billion annually in 2015. However, to reach the ₦6 billion monthly target, the state must more than triple its current revenue generation, requiring a multi-faceted and strategic approach.

To drive this ambitious revenue growth, the Commissioner stated that the state government has outlined comprehensive strategies, including:

1. **Strengthening Revenue Collection**: Enhancing tax collection efficiency through technology-driven solutions that minimise leakages and optimise real-time revenue tracking.

2. **Broadening the Tax Base**: Intensifying efforts to capture more taxable entities, especially in the informal sector, ensuring equitable contributions without overburdening businesses.

3. **Digitalisation**: Implementing digital solutions for revenue collection to minimise leakages and improve efficiency.

4. **Economic Diversification**: Expanding revenue sources by investing in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and manufacturing to reduce reliance on traditional tax revenue.

5. **Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)**: Strategic collaborations with private investors to drive revenue from infrastructure, services, and industries, reducing the financial strain on the state government.

6. **Capacity Building and Institutional Strengthening**: Training and equipping revenue officers and agencies with modern tools and data-driven insights to enhance revenue administration.

Hon. Idris emphasised that while the administration has made significant strides in increasing the state’s IGR, achieving a monthly target of ₦6 billion would require sustained efforts, strategic planning, and the active participation of stakeholders in the state’s economy.

He stressed that the revenue growth initiative aligns with Governor Ododo’s vision of financial independence, enabling Kogi to fund salaries, execute developmental projects, and reduce dependence on federal allocations.

He also noted that the administration is focused on driving an economy that works for everyone. By implementing these strategic revenue initiatives, the state will ensure that civil servants’ salaries are paid from internally generated revenue while maintaining a business-friendly environment. This buttressed the Ododo administration’s resolve and signals a bold step toward economic resilience, fiscal sustainability, and improved service delivery.

Kogi State is on track to becoming a model for revenue generation and financial independence in Nigeria, he noted.

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