Tambuwal sacks internal revenue board, signs N204.3bn 2017 budget into law

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has sacked the management committee of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue.

With this new directive, the former team, headed by Musa Muhammad Maccido, has been asked to hand over the affairs to the newly-appointed interim management committee pending when a substantive board will be appointed.

A statement by the Sokoto state’s Commissioner of Finance, Saidu Umar, said other officers directed to vacate their posts and return to their mother ministries for reassignment were Muhammed Nasir Binji, Bashar Abdullahi, Abubakar Zaki Tambuwal, Hajiya Amina Sani and Wadata Umar.

Others included Muhammed Ahmed, Malami Ibn Labbo, Umar Mairiga and Badamasi Garba Giwa.

“In the same vein, the following persons have been appointed to serve as members of the interim management committee of the Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue: Aminu Dalhatu (Head), Usman Sani Kasim, Usman Balarabe, Abubakar M. Labaran, Haruna Ibrahim, Habiba Abdulaziz, Bello Sodangi, Bala Ango Dogon Daji and Firdausi A. Chadi,” the statement added.

Tambuwal, at a recent budget stakeholders’ summit organised in collaboration with the Coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Sokoto State, promised to reposition the internal revenue board for it to discharge its responsibilities diligently and efficiently.

Meanwhile, the governor has signed into law the state’s 2017 Appropriation Bill of over N204.3 billion.

Speaking at the event, he expressed delight at the timely passage of the budget document by the state House of Assembly, promising that its provisions would be diligently implemented for the benefit of the people of the state.

He said despite financial difficulties faced in the country last year, his administration did not falter in payment of entitlement to workers and pensioners.

“The Auditor-General for Local Governments is working to effect the payment of outstanding pensions and gratuities of local government staff and we will bring it up to date as well,” he added.

Tambuwal also promised to ensure the performance of the budget is better than that of 2016.

“The 2017 budget will be better than 2016 in terms of implementation, while even distribution of resources will be ensured. We will start new projects across the state, with much emphasis placed on rural areas,” he said.