Delta’s Internally Generated Revenue Hits N34.5bn Commissioner

The Delta Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bernard Okumagba, last Thursday said that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) grew by 182 per cent between 2007 and 2012.

The breakdown showed that the IGR rose to N34.5 billion in December 2011 from N12.2 billion in 2007.

Okumagba told journalists in Asaba that the increase was due to new reforms and strategies adopted by the state government during the period.

He said that the sources of the revenue were taxes, fines and fees, licences, rents, interests and dividends.

The commissioner said that the ministries, department, agencies complemented the efforts of the state Board of Internal Revenue in the collection of the revenues.

He said that the state has concluded plans to raise the internally generated revenue in 2012 through effective deployment of government machinery.

Okumagba said that effective deployment of the machinery would help to expand the state’s revenue base and credit worthiness.

The commissioner said that the new revenue strategy encouraged savings culture through strict budget implementation and improved control measures.

Okumagba said that the state planned to diversify its economy so as to reduce the dependence on federal allocations.

“The state is deliberately developing and expanding non-oil sources of income and it is in keeping faith with the agenda of the state.

“The state is also providing resources and enabling environment for work as well as capacity building of employees for effective service delivery,’’ he said.