Taraba Moves To Digitise Revenue Collection, Block Leakages

The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Sarah Enoch Adi, gave the directive at the maiden quarterly revenue performance review meeting in Jalingo on Wednesday.

Adi stressed that improved revenue mobilisation was critical to the government’s capacity to finance development projects and provide essential public services.

She said the state had recorded some progress in revenue generation but noted that significant gaps remained in revenue assessment, collection, remittance and accountability.

The commissioner urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to strengthen collaboration and update their revenue databases to enable the government identify untapped revenue sources and eliminate leakages.

She also warned revenue officials against diverting government funds, describing revenue as the lifeblood of government and stressing that all funds due to the state must be properly assessed, collected and accounted for.

According to her, the adoption of digital revenue collection platforms would reduce human interference, improve transparency and make it easier for taxpayers to meet their obligations.

“Digital platforms can improve transparency, reduce human interference, make payment more efficient for taxpayers and provide government with reliable and timely revenue information for decision-making,” she said.

Adi explained that the quarterly review was not merely an avenue for presenting figures but an opportunity to assess performance, identify challenges and develop practical strategies for improving revenue mobilisation.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Taraba State Internal Revenue Service (TIRS), Brigadier General Jeremiah Faransa (rtd.), said the agency would intensify efforts to exploit available revenue opportunities in the third quarter.

Faransa called for collective responsibility among revenue-generating agencies, stressing that improving IGR was not the responsibility of TIRS alone but required the cooperation of all relevant government institutions.

A board member of TIRS, Mr Idi Ivo, said the automation of revenue collection had already yielded positive results by reducing opportunities for leakages.

Ivo said direct electronic payments had improved transparency and enabled the government to monitor collections more effectively.

He urged MDAs to embrace digital systems and information sharing, noting that the state could not achieve improved revenue performance without effective collaboration and the adoption of available technology.

The officials said the quarterly review would continue as part of efforts to institutionalise regular monitoring, accountability and performance assessment in the state’s revenue administration.

Participants expressed optimism that sustained reforms, digitalisation and stronger inter-agency collaboration would expand Taraba’s revenue base and strengthen the state’s capacity to finance development.