Gombe generates N19bn in one year—official
By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Gombe State Revenue Recovery Tribunal has recovered N19 billion within one year of its establishment.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, His Worship Muhammad Tukur Jungudo, stated this in Gombe during the commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the tribunal.
He explained that the tribunal was established in October 2022 with the mandate to recover the government’s revenues from companies and individuals.
Jungudo noted that the aim of the tribunal is to surmount the problems of tax evasion, which causes the government to lose a lot of income, and to ensure fairness and transparency in the tax system.
He said another objective is to enhance tax payers’ confidence and curtail delays and bottlenecks in the adjudication of tax matters at conventional courts.
“With the establishment of the tribunal, the revenue of Gombe State has significantly increased.
“From October to December 2022, the revenue generated was N6.6 billion, and from January to September 2023, the amount increased to N12 billion,” he said.
In his remarks, Governor Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, represented by his deputy, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, said the importance of revenue generation cannot be overemphasised as a crucial element in the running of government.
He urged tax payers to pay their dues as soon as possible to enable the government to deliver the dividends of democracy.
According to him, the revenue recovery tribunal is the first of its kind in the entire North East subregion.
Yahaya said that, prior to the establishment of the tribunal, the state’s revenue was N10.6 billion but increased to N18.9 billion after the establishment.
In his remarks, the former Chairman of the Gombe State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Salihu Baba Alkali, who is now a Hon. Commissioner of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, represented by the Director of Administration and Finance, Musa Jonga, testified that the establishment of the revenue recovery tribunal increased the revenue generated in the state.
Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for establishing the revenue recovery tribunal to generate more revenue for the state.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Zubairu Muhammad Umar, lauded the good composition of the membership of the tribunal, expressing that the success story is not a surprise as competent and reliable members were drawn from the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice to carry out this task.
Barrister Zubairu Umar also commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his initiative and focus in establishing the revenue recovery tribunal, which is the first of its kind in the zone.
He concluded by applauding Justice Joseph Ahmed Awak (RTD) for his vision, which yielded a positive result.
The secretary of the tribunal, Barrister Hannatu Dauda Simon, appreciated His Excellency, the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, for his unshakeable support in helping the tribunal perform effectively. She went further to commend the resolute commitment of the former chairman of the Internal Revenue Service, Hon. Salihu Baba Alkali, and the Attorney General, Hon. Zubairu Mohammed, which caused the tribunal to experience an accelerated progression.
Barr. Hannatu called on the good people of Gombe State to understand that the tribunal was not established to witch-hunt anyone but to encourage citizens of the state to pay their tax as it secures fiscal emoluments needed by the government to execute projects for the collective benefit of all citizens of the state.
