GOMBE – The Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS), says it has generated N40.8 billion revenue in 2025, representing a 500 per cent increase in tax collection.
Its Chairperson, Aisha Adamu, said this in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Gombe.
She said the service blocked revenue leakages while improving transparency in tax collection in the state within the last six years.
Adamu said tax collection has increased from N6.8 billion in 2019 to N40.8 billion in 2025, representing about 500 per cent increase.
She highlighted that major tax reforms anchored on transparency and fiscal responsibilities resulting in the digitalisation of the processes of tax collection blocked loopholes explored by fraudulent individuals.
Adamu identified revenue leakage as a major challenge to tax collection and one of the reasons for the low revenue generation in the past.
“We have continuously seen improvement in revenue generation which has improved by over 500 per cent because we blocked almost all the leakages.
“Leakages come from fake tax collection and the bad eggs in the system.
“With the digitalisation, we have blocked a lot of leakages because once you make any payment, you get an acknowledgment from the service that your payment has been received.
“ Also we do not collect cash to prevent manual processes that are prone to manipulation.
“None of our taxes have been increased by a dime, yet we were able to double our collections from 2023 till date, meaning that these taxes are being paid and are going to the wrong hands,’’ she said.
Adamu said the digital reforms enabled tax payment to be made at the payer’s convenience, boost revenue collection, prevent tax evasion and apathy in the state.
In addition to the digitalised system, Adamu said the service trained its staff to bring them up-to-date with the dynamics of tax collection and administration.
“We also invested in renewable energy which resulted in the installation of solar power in all our offices and a lot of investments were made to ensure efficient running of the organisation while improving engagement with stakeholders.
“We want to consolidate on our gains by aligning with what is happening at the federal level, that is the tax reforms, continue digitalisation, capacity building and enlightenment of tax payers to ensure improvement in collection,’’ Adamu said.
She commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for the tax reforms and investments in the digitalisation of the service to enhance its operations.
“In Gombe State, citizens are willingly paying their taxes because they are happy with the level of infrastructure, development and investment in human capital which has earned the state a lot of accolades.
“The confidence of the people has been boosted through the massive projects being executed, and it has proven that monies being remitted to the government as taxes are being used judiciously.”
She appealed to residents of the state to pay their taxes promptly, assuring that tax payers would get good value for their taxes through good governance for sustainable social and economic development. (NAN)
