Nigeria tasks states on internal revenue

The National Council on Finance and Economic Development has called on government at all levels in Nigeria to declare state of emergency on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.
The council had met for three days in Kaduna to find ways of improving revenue generation in the country.
It also called on government to bring all potential tax payers into the tax net as part of measures toward unlocking the potentials of the non-oil sector to provide sustainable source of revenues.
The body equally advised that states internal revenue services be strengthened to have sole responsibility for the collection taxes for state governments.
“Automation should be prioritised and adopted in states to facilitate efficiency in the collection and accurate remittance of government revenue.
“Government should also build the capacity of personnel on e-government, e-tax collection and e-response to community development programmes to change the perception of tax payers.
“Enlightenment of tax payers should be intensified, and tax education should be mainstreamed in school curricula to instill tax culture in Nigerian youths,” the communique said.
On mining, the council advised government against undertaking investment in the sector but provide enabling environment to attract investors.
“Government should also take deliberate measures to focus on development of the mining sector by providing adequate budgetary provision and effective legal framework to enhance the contribution of the sector to economic growth and development.
“There should also be proper arrangement to ensure equity in the allocation of revenue accruing from solid minerals between the federation and the states of mineral deposits.
“Government should also encourage research and development in the mining sector and ensure synergy among tertiary, research institutions, government and the mining operators for effective utilization of research outcomes.
“Effort should also be made to provide reliable and accurate data on the location, quantity, and quality of the type of minerals for investors to be attracted to the sector,” it added.
It also called on states to key into the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability programme designed to strengthen public finance management, increase revenue generation and debt management.