Acting Chairman of Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Emmanuel Agena, has disclosed that 35 people who engage in illegal tax collectors in the state are facing prosecution.
He stated that the agency was targeting to generate over N16bn in 2024.
The BIRS acting boss, who disclosed this on Monday while speaking with journalists, added that in 2023 the board surpassed its N14bn target.
Agena lamented the activities of illegal tax collectors in the state, noting that most of them had the backing of prominent individuals.
He said that under his watch the era of patronising politicians had become history.
The BIRS boss frowned at the recent incident where a truck conveying palliatives from Adamawa to Anambra State was hijacked by some youths in Aliade, Gwer East.
He said, “A truck was intercepted and the driver beaten while the windscreen of the vehicle broken and over N200,000 was stolen. Three persons have been arrested and are in police custody. They will be moved to DSS for thorough. investigation.
“We aim to flush out or reduce illegal tax collectors to the barest minimum. Already, 35 people who engaged in illegal tax collectors were arrested and facing prosecution.
“This has been a big challenge. We have constituted a team headed by the director of Tax collection. Prominent people in the state are involved in encouraging these boys.”
According to the BIRS boss, the agency planned to recover over N5.6bn from ground rent, adding that it was liaising with the state’s Ministry of Land in that regard.
“We also, engaged the service of Softnet, an ICT company to aid us collect revenue. They are paid a commission. The company have engaged over 250 staff, who have been trained and given Point on Sale to collect revenue.
“Taxation is about confidence. Our work now is easy because taxpayers are willing to pay because the people are seeing what the government is doing,” he stated.