Jigawa State House of Assembly has expressed dismay on the state ‘s internal revenue leakages and shortchange, assured the State Internal Revenue Services (JIRS) all support to uses its autonomous power in reverse and taxes collection in the State.
The chairman house committee on appropriation of the house, Honourable, Hamza Ibrahim gave the assurance in an interview with Online Tribune at Three Star Hotel in Dutse, the state capital during an engagement season between the legislatures and Jigawa State Internal Revenue Services organization by Prime Initiative for Community Development and Physical Transparency.
Honourable Hamza Ibrahim who also the member representing Malam Madori local government state Assembly constituency, expressed concern over the leakages and short payment of internal revenue and taxes in the state.
According to him; “The discovery on shortchanging the state by revenue and taxes defaulting, short payment and leakages in collections and remittance of the funds.
“As a major stakeholders with people mandates and trust, what we heard the problem and convinced that there is a serious challenge that needs urgent and collective efforts and overcome it for the of our future development”.
He assured the service of the state assembly’s all support and contribution, “forward all your request and the service needed expenditure to improve the constitutional duties during your budget defence, the house would favourably view and consider it”.
In his part the executive chairman of the Jigawa State Internal Revenue Services, Malam Nasir Sabo Idris decried of massive leaking and shortchange of the state’s local revenue.
Malam Nasir Sabo Idris said he is in dear needs of the law makers urgent support and understanding for total redesigning of the operational plans and strategies for effective taxes and revenue collection and remittance.
According to him “on my assumption in to office I introduced new modern strategies. We employed ICT and established a new revenue data base and registered new tax payers, using Jigawa enlightenment and engagement team (JETS) a team to be going out every Wednesday for tax payers enlightenment, sensitisation and tax payers data collection”.
He said the JETS would also serves as monitoring mechanism for tax remittances, also to checkmate the shape practices in the government ministries, department and agencies encouraging withholding from MDAs, Companies and PEYE.
The executive chairman appeal to the legislatures to approve the agency’s request for establishing and installation of a software to digitalize the agency’s operations which is the best and simple way to block all leakages and most of the challenges.
“If our request had been guaranteed I have to confidence to increase the state revenue by 50 percent next year, and 100 percent by 2025”.
In his part the executive director of the Prime Initiative for Community Development and Physical Transparency, Comrade Muhammad Abdu Dutse said the purpose of the season is to give an open discussion between the legislatures and revenue collection agency management on the challenges and possible solutions for accountability and transparency.
He said what the group presented was generated from citizens and state actors during various town hall meetings and dialogues where key issues was discussed and some recommendations was made in which base on that an action plans would be made.
. TheWitness
