Kenneth Udeh - Abuja

SOLICITS FIRS SUPPORT TO ENHANCE STATE'S REVENUE DRIVE

Niger State Governor and chairman north Central Governor's Forum Abubakar Sani Bello says diversification of the economy has become necessary following the inconsistency in the fall of the global price of crude oil.

Governor Sani Bello stated this when he led a delegation to pay a congratulatory visit to Mohammed Mamman Nami, on his recent appointment as the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Governor noted that the signal has been there , from 2015, of inconsistency and decline in the economy as oil price continue to dwindle, hence the state started investing in other sectors to boost its revenue and give people confidence.

He said all the states in the country must diversify and invest in other sectors of the economy adding that, in the nearest future, proceeds from such investments would be utilized in running the affairs of government.

"Any meaningful investment will take time, it has a gestation period and we have to also work on the system", he said.

While frowning at the attitude of some people that refuse to pay tax, the Governor explained the need for them to desist from such act, noting that such funds are needed to address infrastructural deficit and other social amenities that have been stretched.

Governor Sani Bello threw his weight behind the computerization of the revenue sector, stressing that the infrastructure and logistics needed should be provided for.

Governor Sani Bello also called for synergy with the FIRS to assist the state in exploring more ways of enhancing its revenue generation drive.

In his remarks, the FIRS Boss lamented the poor tax payment culture in Nigeria, describing it as the weakest in Africa because the people don't like paying taxes, pointing out that tax collection in the country has remained a daunting task for the organization.

Mohammed Nami suggested the use of technology as a necessary step to reverse the trend of taxes payment refusal and also called for attitudinal change from prospective tax payers.

While assuring of FIRS's support in enhancing its revenue generation drive, the Chairman urged the state government to key into the organization's platform that would be introduced mutually beneficial partnership between the state and the federal government.

He appreciated Governor Sani Bello for leading a powerful delegation that has the Emir of Agaie, HRH Yusuf Nuhu and other top government functionaries to congratulate him on his appointment.

The FIRS chairman also extended his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for finding him worthy for the job.

O ma yaa yin gan. Iwoyi ana...

Diversify to what? With what? Beef?

They shout diversification each time the international price of crude oil falls. Once the price rebounds, it’s business as usual. Empty heads!

Noooo. We don’t need to diversify, Buhari and APC should keep searching for oil in North. Ndi iberibe

Audio

he has ear problem

always diversifying decade in decade out

They’ve been banging on about diversify..diversify...diversify for at least the past two decades, yet it hasn’t occurred to them Nigeria is in a much deeper shithole than diversify!

Keep on ignoring the elephant in the room (ie-total and unambiguous restructuring or dismemberment of Lugards’ experiment) in the misplaced hope that things would somehow get better!

They had to wait till crude can no longer be sold to start thinking about diversifying? You think economic diversification plans and implementation and materialization happens overnight?

Sorry, you don't have leaders capable of stimulating economic revolution.
No single one.

It does not happen by chance. Not in a billion years.

Dumb heads.

They only talk of economic diversification when the price of crude oil going south.

How many businesses pay tax in Nigeria apart from in Lagos? let's start from there

Nonsense statement! Diversify to where at the eleventh hour, please? They have been sleeping all this while

It is well

We are ready to but the move is being frustrated honestly. I can't imagine amount of fuel am burning to keep my business moving

Give Nigeria a steady electricity and see our true strength

Talk is cheap. What have you done in your state to generate revenue? If not just depending on Federal allocation on monthly basis.

Lazy, visionless, and directionless set of leaders. No wonder all the senators from Niger state are sponsoring one useless bill or the other.

"Nigeria must diversify now" yen yen yen yen yen.....

Since i was born and nw am getting old am hearing about diversify. Pls who is he.

While frowning at the attitude of some people that refuse to pay tax, the Governor explained the need for them to desist from such act, noting that such funds are needed to address infrastructural deficit and other social amenities that have been stretched.

Oga governor so you want us to pay tax so that you and your colleagues can continue to pay yourselves N360m pensions. You're mad