For the first time in the history of Rivers state, the state government has hit internally generated revenue of N9, 591, 046,990.43, the highest since the commencement of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s tax reforms in the state.
The new tax regime being done by the State government in partnership with Skye Bank has continuously yielded positive results with a monthly average of between N5billion to 6billion average, and now a whooping N9.5billion in the month of February, 2013.
Prior to Governor Amaechi’s emergence at the helm of affairs in the State, the Rivers State Internally Generated Revenue has never grown beyond N2.5billion, sometimes its well below N2billion but Amaechi began the tax sector reform and the figure has gradually increased over the years.
Spokesman of Governor Amaechi, Mr. David Iyofor in an interview with State House correspondents said Governor Amaechi is very excited by this new development. “He is very happy with this figure of N9.5billion for the month of February. Governor Amaechi is happy with what our partners in the tax project-Skye Bank is doing with the State government in the tax project and has urged them to continue on this path. He believes that the state can do even better than this figure of N9.5billion and has clearly told them to improve on it.”
“This new height is a clear testimony of the benefits of Governor Amaechi’s initiated reforms in IGR in the State. He strongly believes that with a robust tax reform policy, the state can do very well in internal generated revenue,” Iyofor said.
Iyofor urged Rivers people and corporate bodies to continue to support the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue and our Syke Bank tax partners by promptly and accurately paying their taxes for sustainable growth and development of the State as funds collected would assist the Amaechi administration in carrying out more developmental projects in the State.
