From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

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Chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB) and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, has explained how the Federal Government raised over N500 billion distributed at the Federation  Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in June.
Fowler said yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, when he led 36 state chairmen of the State Board of Internal Revenue (SBIR) to the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, that 70 per cent of the N500 billion came from non-oil sources while only 30 per cent came from oil sources. It was the first time in 2016 that the Federal Government shared over N500 billion among the three tiers of government during the Federation  Accounts  Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.
“We are proud of the development and we tell ourselves that this is the time to fund the budget of the Federal Government from non-oil sources,” Fowler said.
Nigeria, he said,  has a cumulative figure of 10 million registered taxpayers if you add the number of taxpayers of SBIR and the FIRS. JTB, Fowler said,  has given itself a target to register at least 10 million additional taxpayers by December 31, 2016.
Fowler commended  Amosun  for being the first  governor to approve FIRS’ request on the automated deduction and remittance of Value Added Tax (VAT) and Withholding Tax, from the point of payments to contractors in states.
“Pursuant to implementing the collaboration framework, FIRS requested for an approval of State Executive Governors to allow automation of the process of payments on taxable transactions to enhance the deduction, at source, particularly of Withholding Tax and VAT. It is important to note and acknowledge that the Executive Governor of Ogun State was the first to acknowledge and approve the implementation of the process,” Fowler said.
The chairman also praised Amosun’s efforts on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and in transforming the Ogun State Board of Internal Revenue.
“We have come basically to discuss the issue of revenue. We monitor the performance of every state and we appreciate the excellent revenue performance of Ogun State.”
It is on record that the state’s annual IGR grew by 50 per cent in 2015 thereby making the Ogun State occupy the 4th position in performance collection rating of states and first in IGR growth,” the chairman noted.
Declaring open the 135th meeting of the JTB, Amosun, said, “whatever you, Customs and others did last month that ensured that we  (federal, states) shared over N500 billon at FAAC, please continue to do it. It is good for the Federal Government. It is good for states. It is good for local governments. It is good for the nation.”
Amosun said the ability of the Federal Government to collect more than N500 billion last month shows that Nigeria can generate more if everyone is determined to explore other sources of revenue apart from oil.
“It has come to a point we should say, okay, let us leave oil aside. Let us face non-oil sources. This is the first time in recent times, the Federal Government shared the excess of N500 billion and 70 per cent of that sum came from non-oil sources. That means we can do more if we are determined. All hands must be on deck to grow our tax revenue. We must find a way of bringing the rich people into the tax net,” he said.
The governor said although states like Ogun and Lagos are doing well in terms of IGR, all is not well until other states are able do same.
“Yes Ogun State can pay salaries as at when due and we have been able to do some projects. We did not depend on the federal allocation to do that. However, we must continue to work together with the Joint Tax Board till every state is  able to pay salaries and be comfortable,” he said.
In a statement, Head, Communications and Servicom Department of FIRS, Mr. Wahab Gbadamosi, said the JTB is the umbrella body for state and federal tax authorities in Nigeria and was established in 1961 to promote uniformity and harmonisation of Personal Income Tax Administration across the country.