By Patrick Omagbemi
The recent announcement by Hon Solomon Ighrakpata, Chairman Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Service that the revenue board has surpassed year 2024 targeted revenue, shattered ceilings and is reaching beyond the sky limits in terms of revenue generation under his able leadership, is quite remarkable and highly commendable.
As a former Lawmaker Representing Uvwie Constituency at the DTHA and former member of DBIRS, Ighrakpata was well equipped with knowledge and experience leading to his appointment as Chairman of the revenue board.
No doubt, this feat testifies that he is excelling in his position as Chairman and piloting the affairs of the board in the right direction. This milestone of achievement annouced by the board Chairman can be attributed to the various innovative, efficient tax methods employed to enhance and ensure better management of revenue collection and computation. It demonstrates a careful process of accountability, prudency and transparency on the part of the board under his leadership.
Achieving a performance increase of 143.05% is no mean feat. This percentage increase is against the N110,304,108,619.00 (One Hundred and Ten Billion, Three Hundred and Four Million, One Hundred and Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Nineteen Naira) targeted revenue for 2024 fiscal year, Ighrakpata stated.
An excited Ighrakpata transparently added that the board was successfully able to generate a total of N157,785,188,072.55 (One Hundred and Fifty-Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, One Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Seventy-Two Naira, Fifty- Five Kobo) in the year 2024 under review. This not only rose above the year 2024 target, but also exceeded the year 2023 collected Internally Generated Revenue of N114, 088,309,224.99 (One Hundred and Fourteen Billion, Eighty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Nine Thousand, Two Hundred Twenty-Four Naira, Ninety-Nine Kobo.
Achievements like this needs to be highlighted and celebrated. It promotes public trust, and encourages more citizen participation in the payment of tax. As the impending Federal Tax reforms looms, the DBIR leadership has assured of its commitment, showing that it is piosed for greater revenue generation in the years ahead.
This positive precedent calls for sustenance. The entire board under the innovative leadership of Ighrakpata must be appreciated and commended for boosting the fortunes of Delta State. Such can be done by way of incentives to boost staff moral and serve as motivation.
This exemplary performance by the DBIRS is worthy of emulation by other agencies of Government. It shows that with the right leadership, dedication, motivation and commitment better service delivery can be delivered in the execution of government programmes and policies.
As we look forward to a better fiscal year 2025, it is the justified hope of the citizenry that the prospects of economic growth of Delta State will continue to rise, thereby enabling the state government under Governor Sheriff Oborewvori to deliver on its promises of the MORE Agenda.
