BIRS HOLDS TRIPARTITE MEETING WITH MINISTRY OF LANDS, TAX CONSULTANTS FOR SYNERGY AND COLLABORATION
In order to optimally harness the revenue sources under the ministry of Lands and Solid Minerals to improve the revenue profile of the state, the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, today held a tripartite meeting with the ministry and consultants under the ministry.
The meeting which was hosted by the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and solid minerals, Bernard Unenge, at the instant of BIRS, at the new BENGIS edifice, also discussed on collaboration and synergy to halt the identified lapses and leakages in the system.
Speaking during the meeting, the award winning Executive Chairman of the service, Chief (Mrs) Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, FCTI, CNA, said the meeting became necessary so as to close ties with the Ministry and put all hands on desk to deliver on the purpose upon which the Benue Geographic Information Service, BENGIS, was setup.
The Chairman emphasized that with the adoption of technological innovations by BIRS and the synergy with the ministry there shall be no business as usual, as BIRS with the constitutional mandate to assess and collect all revenues, taxes and levies on behalf of the Benue State Government, as contained in Section 24 of the amended 2022 revenue administration law, shall ensure that all collections are accounted for and remitted into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Chief Adzape-Orubibi also stated that the revenue agency does not have any revenue source of its own but has the constitutional mandate to assess and collect all revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Benue State Government, hence the need for the collaboration.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and solid minerals, Bernard Aondoaver Unenge assured the Chairman of the willingness of the Ministry to work closely with BIRS. Adding that with the automation of land administration as captured by BENGIS the process of getting land tittle deeds is now more transparent, and shall be closely monitored too.
The Commissioner also called for such meetings to be held regularly so as to continuously improve on the processes and gains.
The meeting also resolved to engage members of the public through enlightenment programme to take advantage of the six months grace period given by Governor Ortom to properly get their certified land documents.
The meeting had in attendance, the permanent secretary of the Ministry, TPL Steven Adah, top Directors of the ministry, Project managers of BENGIS, the managements of Egghead consultant and Osoft Integrated Resources, who are the consultants on Land use Charge and Capital Gains Tax respectively.
