National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Acting Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Emmanuel Agena, has disclosed that 35 individuals acting as unlicensed tax collectors in the state are set to face legal consequences.
Agena shared this information while speaking with journalists in Makurdi, the capital of the state, on Monday. He also stated that the agency aims to generate more than N16 billion by 2024, surpassing its N14 billion target in 2023.
He lamented the misdeeds of the state’s illegal tax collectors, noting that many of them enjoy backing from prominent figures.
He further emphasized that the days of favoring politicians were over during his tenure, citing the recent event where youths in Aliade, Gwer East, intercepted a truck transporting relief materials from Adamawa to Anambra State.
He said, “A truck was intercepted, the driver was beaten, the windscreen of the vehicle was broken, and over N200,000 was stolen. Three people have been arrested and are in police custody. They will be moved to the DSS for a thorough investigation.
“Our aim is to flush out or reduce illegal tax collectors to the barest minimum. Already, 35 people who engaged in illegal tax collection have been arrested and are facing prosecution.
“This has been a big challenge. We have constituted a team headed by a director of tax collection. Prominent people in the state are involved in encouraging these boys.
“We also plan to recover over N5.6bn from ground rent. We are liaising with the Ministry of Land in this direction.”
He explained that the company hired an ICT firm to assist in revenue collection.
“They are paid a commission. The company has engaged over 250 staff members who have been trained and given points of sale to collect revenue.
“Taxation is about confidence. Our work now is easy. Taxpayers are willing to pay because the people are seeing what the government is doing,” he added.
