Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS.
Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
Policy Alert, a non-governmental organisation working on fiscal justice has praised the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS, for an impressive revenue generation in 2020.
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) met 20 percent basic IGR growth in 2019, necessary to receive $1million grant incentive offered by the World Bank supported by SFTAS programme to Nigerian States.
SFTAS, which means States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability Programme, focuses on strengthening the fiscal transparency.
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In a memorandum presented at a public hearing on the 2021 Fiscal Bill of Akwa Ibom state hosted by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on November 3, 2020, Policy Alert said AKIRS was outstanding in its revenue performance.
In the memorandum presented by its Executive Director, Mr Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Policy Alert said AKIRS’ performance was “impressive in absolute terms.”
“The state has continued to improve in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) performance. In spite of COVID-19 and the tax holidays, N21.612 billion was realised as IGR as at September 2020, which is 94.3 percent of proposed IGR for the year.”
“We must commend very outstanding revenue generating agency, the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS) that had budget target of N38 billion in 2019, but was able to raise N30.3 billion which although 20.3 percent below target was impressive in absolute terms.”
Bar chart showing IGR trend in Akwa Ibom.
Also lauded for good IGR performance was the Akwa Ibom Airport Development Company Limited (AKADCL).
Recall that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had earlier this year commended the Board of AKIRS, led by the Executive Chairman, Mr Okon Okon, for significant and steady improvement in the IGR of the state.
The commendation of the House of Assembly was conveyed to the state internal revenue service by Mr. Uduak Odudoh, Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and Finance during an oversight visit to AKIRS.
The Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service alone generated N15.596 billion in 2017, N24.210 billion in 2018, and N32.210 billion in 2019 under the current Board.
