IGR: ‘ Delta Generates Over N6 Billion Monthly’

From Ochei Matthew, Asaba
The Delta state government generats over N6 billion from Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) on monthly basis, a member of the state IGR board has confided in The Dream Daily.
Consequently the board member said there was no reasons for the state government to complain of paucity of funds, more so when Delta also receives huge amounts from the Federation Accounts.
“For four months now, the board of internal revenue generates over N6.4billion monthly and that is enough to pay salaries in state,” the source said.
But another reliable source who did not want his name on print told The Dream Daily that the board only generates N3.4billion monthly, adding that the board was working assiduously to ensure that this is increased to generate more funds for the state.
Chairman, Registered Political Parties Forum South-South and chairman Social Democratic Party (SDP) Delta state, Oke Idawene, told The Dream Daily that said the issue of IGR was a serious problem that been disturbing all concerned Deltans.
Idawene said: “This issue has been bothering me and other people irrespective of our political affiliations. We all belong to this state and we need to know the amount generated but now what the state generates as IGR is traded in top secrecy. The state government should tell us how much IGR it generates because we own the money.
“Anything that is done in secret is bad, it must be open one day, that is the nature for you. Deltans have the right to know what they are generating, what they are declaring now is not what they are generating. They have been short-changing Deltans. That is why they are keeping it secret. We would soon take them to court.
Hon. Oke said that Governor Okowa has not properly harness the revenue in the state, urging him to explore “vital means of revenue like Delta Line Transport, Oghara Songhai, Skill Acquisition in Issele-uku, oil companies and other companies in Delta to collect taxes, than increasing school fees, charging landlords to pay N1.5million for the house they built years ago. Where do you want these people to get money from?”
He said that Delta state was “too rich in both human and mineral resources to complain over financial matter, especially in battling to pay salaries of workers in the state.”