…”Our Goal is to Project Gombe as Best State in Tax Collection in North East” – Says GIRS Chair

Governor State Government has highlighted its strategic vision to reduce reliance on external funding sources and foster self-sufficiency while preserving the tenets of probity and accountability in the State.

This was contained in a press statement released by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Ismaila Uba Misilli and made available to Jewel Times.

This commitment came to the fore when the management team of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service, GIRS, led by the newly appointed Chairman, Hajiya Aisha Adamu Yaro, paid a courtesy visit on Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in his office.

While receiving the team, the Governor expressed his confidence in the leadership of GIRS and assured them of his support towards fulfilling their mandate.

“We envision a state that can meet the needs of its people without relying on national allocation,” Governor Inuwa declared as he expressed his confidence in the GIRS’ leadership. “I have confidence in you and I believe you can successfully deliver on the mandates given to you”, he said, urging the new Executive Chairman of the GIRS to brace up and perform beyond expectations.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, the newly appointed chairperson of the GIRS, expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting her with this vital role which she described as an opportunity to serve her people, praising him for his commitment to gender mainstreaming, while assuring to deliver beyond expectations.

“With all the support from His Excellency, government should expect increased revenue and the people of Gombe State should expect improved service deliver from us”, she pledged.

Hajiya Aisha Yaro explained that the service has exceeded their target in 2023 by a remarkable 15%, generating an all-time highest Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of over 15 billion Naira for the state.

“With the support we received from the His Excellency and the political will, the service has raised the bar for revenue generation; we have set up an ambitious target of 22 billion Naira for the year 2024 – a significant 100% increase from the previous target”, she noted.

Assuring that the service will intensify efforts around its core functions of tax assessment, collection, and remittance to the government deploying modern technology for more efficiency and accountability while bolstering revenue generation despite the national economic challenges.

The chairperson emphasised that tax revenue plays a crucial role in supporting vital development projects and controlling externalities citing how effective revenue collections in other states help improve their IGR for financial independent and liberation.

“Apart from taxes, we equally generate revenue through levies and fines” she further explained while mentioning other avenues through which the GIRS generates revenue for the state.

Recognizing the critical role of the media in public education and awareness, the chairperson expressed her readiness to partner with especially the home-based media outfits in the area of public education. “We aim to work hand-in-hand with the media to educate the public about the importance of taxation and its role in funding essential public services”, she said.

Hajiya Aisha acknowledged public concerns regarding potential tax mismanagement, but assured residents that GIRS is committed to absolute transparency inline with Governor Inuwa’s policies and reforms.

The chairperson also unveiled plans to facilitate a seamless tax collection process in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s focus on accountability. The plans include offering online tax payment options and establishing more tax offices throughout the state.

“To bolster trust and efficiency, we plan to leverage modern technology for enhanced revenue collection”, she announced.

While recognizing the importance of comprehensive data for effective revenue collection, she said “GIRS plans to conduct a taxpayer enumeration exercise”, adding that public education through media engagement and collaboration is another key strategy.

“Our goal is to project Gombe as a leader in tax collection in the Northeast Subregion region,” she stated, urging the good people of Gombe State to embrace responsible citizenship and pay their taxes voluntarily to reciprocate government gesture in providing social amenities and services for the development of the state.