Sokoto State Government has disclosed its intention in working towards self-sufficiency in terms of revenue generation, by improving on its internal revenue generation for the state.
The state commissioner for finance, Honourable Abdulsamad Dasuki, stated this in his remarks at the stakeholders meeting on progressive taxation organized by ActionAid in conjunction with Sokoto internal revenue.
Represented by the Director of Control, Alhaji Aminu Bala Sokoto, the commissioner said to achieve many objectives of the state
government, in terms of service delivery, the state needs to generate more revenue both from the private organisations as well as the individuals.
He said Sokoto state internal revenue has improved in its services as more revenue is being generated in the state.
He however said the state target is to stand on its feet without the federal allocation, but rely mainly on internally generating revenue within the state.
Dasuki however said to achieve this, more professionals including 47 fresh graduates cutting across all the 23 local governments area were employed by the state internal revenue which he said is presently yielding positive results.
“The state needs each and every one of us to improve on what we are doing to achieve its aim.
“The state revenue agency is the only authorized agent to collect tax for government in the state and no issue of cash payment again in the state for taxation”
He said the state is also on behalf of the local government councils in the state collecting taxes and returned to the local government coffers with only the administrative charges remove.
Also speaking, the state chairman of Sokoto Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Aminu Zurmi, said the first thing for all the states in the country is revenue generation.
Zurmi however said in almost all the parts of the world, people don’t want to pay their taxes.
He said despite the many projects to be executed by the state government, the federal allocation is shrinking on monthly basis.
The chairman said to achieve the objective of the government, the state needs to generate more revenue both from the private organisations as well as the individuals.
He said the efforts of the agency helps the state to achieve the second position in terms of percentage on revenue-generating in the country recently with special recognition by the World Bank and other international bodies.
He however said there were some administrative technicalities, which prevents the agency to be able to make use of the autonomy law granting it but assured the agency is working on it.
He also disclosed that despite the new staff recruited by the agency, more staff still needed to be employed to give the agency an edge.
Zurmi called on citizens to take the issue of tax payments more serious so as to help the government in delivering on its responsibilities.
The state internal revenue service also provide highlights information on the new revenue law which is aimed at improving the revenue collection in the state.
He explained some of the new laws to include property law where every landlord pays taxes to the state revenue service from rent collected from their tenants.
He however warned that the government in the new law has totally abolished mounting of roadblocks by any agency or individual in any part of the state for the purpose of collecting tax.
He re-emphasized that the agency has moved from analogue to digital in revenue-generating, which he said no individual is allowed to collect the tax by cash in the state henceforth thereby making it easier for the public.
Also speaking, Alhaji Muhammad Sagir, who represents the Tax Controller, Federal Inland Revenue Services, commended the organizers of the meeting which he described as very timely and important and will bridge the gap between the federal allocation.
He said with the full implantation of the programme, the state government, as well as ordinary citizens of the state, will benefit from improved tax collection.
Other speakers at the stakeholders meeting include the District Head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Jabi, representative of the ministry of budget, tricycles operators, members of the national union of road transport workers, Nigerian union of teachers among others.
The programme was also supported by rural women and youth development (RUWOYD) as well as Norad.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Sokoto targets self-sufficiency in revenue generation Sokoto targets self-sufficiency in revenue generation Sokoto targets self-sufficiency in revenue generation Sokoto targets self-sufficiency in revenue generation.
and then