Nigeria: States’ Internal Revenue Collection Hits N2 Trillion Milestone, Reports FIRS Chairman

Zacch Adedeji, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), disclosed a significant achievement in the realm of revenue collection by states’ Inland Revenue Service (IRS). The cumulative revenue collection by these entities has now surpassed the N2 trillion mark, marking a historic milestone.

Adedeji shared this noteworthy development on Wednesday during the 154th meeting of the Joint Tax Board (JTB) held in Abuja. The event’s theme centered around “Optimising Tax Administration: Leveraging Harmonisation of Taxes via Digital Transformation.”

He expressed his satisfaction with the remarkable progress, stating, “The unprecedented collection of N12.3 trillion posted by the FIRS in 2023 gives us more conviction that with the right things being done, and the right people in the right places, we can achieve the seemingly impossible. We are also encouraged by the performance at the sub-national level, where numbers are looking at crossing the N2 trillion threshold for the first time ever.”

Adedeji emphasized that the focus is not just on nominal growth rates but also on continued positive trends in revenue collection.

The FIRS chairman highlighted the importance of innovation in positioning the JTB as a hub for pioneering ideas aligned with its mandate, technologies, and approach to tax administration issues. He further outlined plans to streamline internal processes, enhancing overall organizational efficiency and responsiveness in a more visible and impactful manner.

Adding to the discussion, Sani Abdulqadir Dambo, the Executive Chairman of Kano Inland Revenue Service (KIRS), shared insights into the state’s digital transformation in revenue collection. He reported a substantial revenue collection of N3.6 billion for January, attributing the success to the migration to digital platforms. Dambo expressed confidence in achieving even greater milestones, aiming for N5 billion in the near term and a remarkable N10 billion in monthly revenue collections, considering the state’s commercial activities and potential.