Enugu’s fiscal fortunes have taken a sharp upturn with the government’s aggressive revenue collection policies.

In just seven months, the state has realized a windfall of N35.9 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR), reflecting an impressive surge in its financial standing.

The Executive chairman Enugu state Internal Revenue Service, Mr Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani stated this in a press conference to mark one year in the office.

Nnamani said “In addition to its robust revenue collection efforts, the government has also expanded its payment gateway options, making tax payment more accessible and efficient for residents.

“When we came in, we discovered that companies that should be in the formal sector were mixed with the informal sector and were not remitting their Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and withholding taxes. We had to bring them in to where they fit. We activated the collection of capital gain tax from sale of lands at the state Ministry of Land and Enugu state Housing Corporation.”

The implication of this is that there will not be signed consent without evidence of capital gain tax.

Nnamani noted that the state government also activated purchase tax that hitherto was in the law but was not implemented.

He explained that the government has also expanded the payment gateways to include platforms such as interswitch, Quick teller, E-transact, Moniepoint and Flutterwave to ease the process of tax payment in the state.

He continued “The government’s proactive approach to revenue collection has not only bolstered the state’s finances but also sent a clear signal to investors and businesses that Enugu is a state where economic opportunities abound.The increased IGR is expected to provide a solid foundation for the implementation of the state’s ambitious development plans, which include significant investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors.

This remarkable achievement is a significant milestone in Enugu State’s journey to economic prosperity and serves as a testament to the commitment and foresight of its leadership led by His Excellecy Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah