Government targets N600 million monthly IGR

The Bayelsa Government has given the newly inaugurated 11-member Bayelsa State Internal Revenue Board (BSIRB), a monthly target of N600 million as against the previous N500million.

Giving the new target on Thursday in Yenagoa, Gov. Seriake Dickson stressed the need for the BSIRB to increase the revenue base of the state.

He said that his Special Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue Matters, would sit with the board on a daily basis to review and improve on its mandate.

“The task before you is very serious, because the federal allocation to the state is very low. As you know our internally generated revenue is also low and for any state to develop, it needs a robust Internally Generated Revenue.

“Government is going to send a bill to the State Assembly to introduce laws and policies that will improve the revenue profile of the state, as the Special Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenue will supervise your activities," Dickson said.

In his remarks, Chairman of the board, Mr Nimibofa Ayawei, expressed the commitment of the members to work and improve on the internal revenue profile of the state.

In a related development, Dickson has also inaugurated an 11-member board of the Centre for Women Development (CWD).

The CWD which has Naomi Ogoli as its Director-General, also has Mrs Kpeseme Willson as Deputy Director-General.

It has eight coordinators for the eight local government areas in the state.