Business
Enugu Recruits 30 BIR Staff
Enugu State Government has approved the recruitment of additional 30 members of staff for the Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, made the disclosure when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the executive council meeting held on Wednesday night.
Udeuhele said that the move was to energise the board to achieve its target.
He said that the recruitment which would be jointly executed by the board and the state civil service would be carried out immediately.
“Approval has been given for the recruitment of 30 people that will be posted to the BIR to enhance the realisation of their objectives and increase the revenue base of the state.
“This approval was sequel to the request by the chairman of the board who complained of lack of adequate manpower as the major challenge of the BIR,” he said.
Udeuhele said that the chairman of the board had at resumption met a dilapidating work environment, including obsolete equipment and infrastructure.
He said that the revenue boss had identified the prevailing circumstance as antithetical to the attainment of their set goals.
“This request by the board, which was as a result of what they met on ground, gave rise to the renovation of the revenue building and now they are doing well.
“The building has been completed and new equipment acquired which would be deployed to different sections of the office to minimise revenue leakage.
“Unfortunately, majority of the staff are either retiring or lack requisite computer knowledge,” he said.
Udeuhele said that the employment would inject the right mix of people, including fresh graduates, in order to disabuse the psyche of the staffers from the practice of old.
“The employment is civil service-based, not contract and the qualifications will vary depending on the specifications. But one thing is sure; they will be sound in computer and accounting,” he said.
The commissioner said that the BIR would be responsible for the shortlisting of the applicants and would in turn forward same to the office of the Head of Service for further action.
“The board will shortlist the
applicants and send their names to the head of service for interview and selection of successful candidates,” he said.
Udeuhele said that the council had approved the participation of the state in the stabilisation fund of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC).
He said that the facility was newly created by the commission to augment statutory allocations to states in the face of dwindling economic fortune.
The facility will be disbursed through participating Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), which will in turn extend the loans to their customers, particularly SMEs, as they directly interface with businesses at the grassroots level.
The Executive Director of COMCIN, Mr. Micheal Ogbaa who represented the Chairman, Dr. Iredele Oyedele (FCA, FCCA), said the initiative is designed to strengthen micro-lending institutions and expand access to finance for grassroots entrepreneurs, particularly women and youths in the informal sector.
Ogbaa explained that COMCIN does not lend directly to individuals but works through its network of microfinance and cooperative institutions, which in turn provide loans to end users.
“We came together to advocate for the microfinance ecosystem. Commercial banks often exclude people at the grassroots, but our members are positioned to reach them. This facility will empower them to do more,” he said.
He noted that the loan scheme offers low interest rates and flexible repayment plans, making it more accessible to small business owners.
According to him, about 90 percent of beneficiaries are expected to be women, who play a key role in sustaining families and driving economic activities at the local level.
“Our focus is on traders, service providers, and players in the informal sector. These are the real movers of the economy. By supporting them, we are strengthening families and contributing to national development,” he added.
Ogbaa disclosed that eligible SMEs with proven integrity and business track records could access up to N5 million each through participating micro-lending institutions. The rollout has commenced in Lagos and will extend to Abuja, Enugu, and other regions, including the South-West, South-East, and North-East.
He said 12 micro-lending institutions have already benefited from the scheme, while 85 applications are currently being processed under the pilot phase.
“Our target is to reach at least 100,000 SMEs nationwide. We are building a platform that connects funding partners with credible micro-lending institutions, creating a reliable channel for financial inclusion,” Ogbaa said.
He added that COMCIN is also working to attract larger funding pools from development finance institutions and private investors, noting that successful implementation of the pilot phase would boost confidence and unlock more capital for SMEs.
“We have seen encouraging testimonies from early beneficiaries. As we demonstrate transparency and efficiency, more institutions will be willing to channel funds through us,” he said.
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