IGR: Sokoto will surpass N37bn IGR target in 2024 – IGS Chair Tambuwal

The Executive Chairman, Sokoto State Internal Revenue Service (IGS), Alhaji Abubakar Zaki Tambuwal, has said the Service has drastically improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N2 billion monthly when he took over to N3.8 billion monthly under one year and is determined to meet and surpass the N37 billion target set for the service in 2024.

During an interview, Tambuwal, who was appointed by Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto in August, 2023, said payment of taxes by residents will enable the government provide basic amenities and deliver on its social contract with the citizens, including the construction of roads, building of schools, healthcare facilities and other infrastructural projects.

Tambuwal said, though the state governor is providing basic amenities for citizens, he is not asking for too much by asking the people to pay their taxes to fund his pro-people projects.

He said: “The main purpose of taxation is to provide revenues for the government to enable it deliver on its social contract with the citizens of Sokoto State, the construction of roads, building of schools, healthcare facilities and other infrastructural projects, all of which Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto is doing. He is certainly not asking for too much by asking the people to pay their taxes to fund his pro-people projects.

“We have drastically improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about N2 billion monthly when we took over to N3.8 billion monthly under one year. And we are determined to meet and surpass the N37 billion target set for us in 2024.

“I must acknowledge the governor’s solid support in the discharge of our assignment, first through the judicious use of the taxes collected in execution of his 9-point Agenda and in the prompt funding of the service, because without funding the Service, there is no way we can work. Revenue collection is expensive. The numerous projects the governor has embarked upon have helped the service in the collection of taxes because the people are finally seeing the benefits of paying their taxes.

“Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto is our Chief Tax Collector. We are not where we want to be, but we are most certainly going to get there. We must support our performing governor. So, we intend to meet and surpass the target.”