The Chairman of Ogun state Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS), on Wednesday said that the agency generated N13. 2 billion between January and August.

Mr Babajide Odubanjo said this during a visit to his office by the Ogun House of Assembly’s Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Abeokuta as part of its oversight functions.

Babajide Odubanjo

The chairman said that the amount was part of the N24.5 billion revenue projected for the period.

He said the revenue was generated from: personal income tax, property tax, road tax, pools, lottery, withholding tax and levies.

Odubanjo said this amount represented 54 per cent of the cumulative target of N24.5billion.

He said that the N13.2billion revenue surpassed the cumulative collection for the corresponding period in 2014 which was N11.9billion by N1.3billion.

The chairman explained that paucity of fund and non-payment of operational running costs as at when due had continued to hinder the effective discharge of revenue collectors’ duties.

“It is pertinent to state that only eight out of 34 tax stations had vehicles to effectively monitor and embark on aggressive tax drive,” he said.

He promised that the agency would continue to improve on its revenue generation drive by creating more awareness among the people on the need for them to pay their taxes as and when due.

The House Committee Chairman, Mr Olusola Bankole, urged the agency to improve on its revenue generation, adding that the assembly would ensure that the agency got the necessary equipment to enhance its work.

Bankole advised the agency to support the government and also carry the assembly along in its activities.

He said that for the state to boost its revenue generation, the government must provide enough mobility for people to drive the project.

The committee also visited the Ministry of Budget and Planning