Plateau Threatens to Crackdown on Tax Defaulters

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

The Plateau State Government has threatened to deal decisively with any indigene that frustrates its efforts at boosting the state’s revenue generation both in the public and private sectors, noting that it is committed to the implementation of its 2017 budget despite the harsh economic realities of the time.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Tamwakat Weli, who disclosed this yesterday while addressing journalists at the 2017 budget breakdown in Jos, added that “the Governor Lalong-led administration is committed to improving the lives of the citizens of the state as long as they meet their tax obligation.”

She said: “Government has put a number of measures in place, to address the dwindling finances of the state, like the centralisation of taxes and levies into Treasury Single Account (TSA) through the use of SMART collect platform, thereby enhancing the revenue generation of the state and checking leakages and frauds in financial operations.”

She added that her ministry has concluded plans to set up a revenue monitoring team to ensure effective compliance in the area of collection and lodgment of same into the SMART collect platform.

Weli said: “Also in a drive to strengthen the financial management system of the state, government has established an efficiency unit, public procurement agency, and coordinating office for all donor funds to save cost in government expenditures process and attract investment.

“Taxes and rates between the state and local government have been harmonised awaiting the governor’s assent. This, when effective, will avoid double taxation conflict, and will further enhance accountability and transparency. We are also working to enhance collaboration with other revenue authorities, such as FIRS for synergy.”

A breakdown of the budget reveals that education sector was allocated 16.9 per cent, while Administration, Works, and Health sectors were allocated 22.9 per cent, 24.5 per cent, and 6.3 per cent respectively of the total budget.