By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe (Nigeria) — Gombe State Board of Internal Revenue in northeast Nigeria says the measures it took in blocking leakages and loopholes in collection of revenue is beginning to yield positive results.
Executive Chairman of the Board, Muhammad Adamu Damji disclosed this while speaking at the launch of Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), in Gombe this weekend.
He said before the reforms, the Board was collecting between 50 million and 150 million Naira monthly, but it now collects between 200 million and 500 million Naira monthly.
“This is made possible as a result of the reforms put in place by the state government, as one of the immediate measures meant to augment the revenue accruing it from the federation accounts,” he said.
Speaking on the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme, he said the programme was launched on June 29 by Nigeria’s Acting President, Yemi Osinbanjo and every Thursday of the week was set side as ‘Tax Thursday’ for all tax authorities at all levels to carry out awareness campaign activities.
VAIDS is an opportunity meant for individuals and groups that have hitherto evaded or dodged tax payment in Nigeria to regularise their tax status and avoid government sanctions.
Damji said VAIDS period last “from 1st July, 2017 to 30th March, 2018,” within which hitherto defaulters over a period of at least six years were allowed to regularise their status without penalty.
