From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The acting Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Services, Mr. Gabriel Asen has decried the low revenue base of the State, attributing this to inability of people to pay their taxes.
Mr. Asen who made this lamentation during a chat with newsmen in his office yesterday, noted that the State economy is not too monetized because it is purely a civil service State.
He further decried the attitude of the two (2) universities, University of Agriculture and the Benue State University in remitting taxes to the board.
The BIRS chair said in spite of all these, the internally generated revenue IGR of the State has appreciated drastically.
“You know that there are no industries in the State except Dangote BCC Cement Company which is remitting its taxes well. The State is purely a civil service State. Revenue drive is a big challenge. It is an
endemic problem but we are pursuing tax drive without molestation. We have refused to demystify revenue”, he said.
Asen intimated that in this regard, the board has set up a committee to generate more revenue for the State, maintaining that it is achieving results.
While appealing to agencies in the State to pay their taxes, he also said that the board has employed over 1700 youths and expends over N70 million as salaries monthly.
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