FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue State House of Assembly has summoned the Executive Chairman of the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Mr. Joseph Kwaghgba, to appear before the House on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to present a comprehensive report on the state’s revenue profile and tax administration.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the member representing Tiev State Constituency, Hon. Dr. Mathew Damkor, during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alfred Emberga, at the Assembly Complex in Makurdi.
The House directed the BIRS Chairman to provide detailed information on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), revenue performance, collection mechanisms, and the technologies and strategies being deployed to improve tax administration, eliminate double taxation, and block revenue leakages.
Lawmakers also requested a briefing on the implementation of the new Presumptive Tax Regime, as well as the agency’s short-term and long-term plans to expand the state’s tax net without placing undue hardship on businesses and residents.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Damkor described internally generated revenue as the foundation of sustainable development, noting that improved IGR would reduce Benue State’s dependence on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) while providing resources for critical infrastructure and public services.
He further argued that the legislature requires accurate information on the state’s revenue baseline, current financial position, and projections to effectively carry out its oversight and appropriation responsibilities.
In a separate resolution, the Assembly directed the Executive Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Councils to immediately terminate or decline the renewal of contracts with third-party revenue consultants and return revenue collection responsibilities to their statutory revenue departments.
The House also mandated the Local Government Service Commission to organise capacity-building and digital training programmes for revenue officers to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in revenue administration across the councils.
Lawmakers further called on Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia to approve an upward review of the salaries and allowances of traditional rulers across the state.
They recommended that no traditional ruler should earn below the national minimum wage of ₦75,000 per month while maintaining a graded remuneration structure based on the category and status of each traditional institution.
The Assembly also urged the state government to provide official vehicles to traditional rulers, beginning with kindred heads, to strengthen grassroots leadership and community governance.
On security, the House condemned the recent attack on Sai Community in Mbajir Council Ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, allegedly carried out by armed herdsmen, describing the incident as barbaric and unacceptable.
The lawmakers called on both the Federal Government and the Benue State Government to intensify efforts to protect lives and property in affected communities and ensure that those responsible for the killings are apprehended and prosecuted.
They also directed the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to immediately provide food and non-food relief materials to victims of the attack.
Meanwhile, the Benue State Startup Bill 2026 scaled second reading during the plenary, while the House also passed the Bill to amend the Area Courts Law, Cap. 11, Laws of Benue State, 2004.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
