From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Barr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun, on Thursday announced that the state generated N52.6 billion in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first six months of 2025.
He disclosed this during the agency’s half-year performance review in Benin City.
Bankole-Balogun, who commended his team for the significant financial achievement, described the feat as historic, surpassing the agency’s previous records.
According to him, “The results speak for themselves. When we compare H1 of 2024 and H1 of 2025, we have the figures as follows: January 2025: N10.4 billion, February 2025: N9.6 billion, March 2025: N6.9 billion, April 2025: N6.9 billion, May 2025: N7.8 billion, and June 2025: over N11 billion, which gives us a half-year-to-date (HYTD) 2025 total of N52.6 billion against a half-year budgeted figure of N58.8 billion, representing an 89.5 percent performance year-to-date.
“In contrast, H1 2024 recorded a total of N36.1 billion—meaning we achieved a 46 percent increase in revenue performance year-on-year.
“This achievement is historic as it reflects the synergy between the staff, management, and, most importantly, the unwavering support of the Executive Governor, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa. We are deeply grateful for their vision and commitment,” he said.
The EIRS boss also commended taxpayers for their cooperation, which has been instrumental to the progress made in the period under review.
“Let me also appreciate the great taxpayers of Edo State—individuals, corporations, and government MDAs—whose level of compliance has been instrumental to our success.
“Your taxes are the lifeblood of the massive infrastructural and developmental projects currently being executed across our dear state,” Bankole-Balogun said.
He added that, for the smooth running of its activities, the service has strengthened its inter-governmental relationships with several federal and state MDAs for effective service delivery.
He mentioned some of these as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Edo State Transport Authority (EDSTA), Edo State Geographic Information Service (EdoGIS), and Edo State Public Procurement Agency (EDPPA), among others, noting that the judiciary has also not been left out.
He said the EIRS, during the period, collaborated with the judiciary in the recovery of tax liabilities owed to the state government.
The EIRS chairman further stated that, under his watch, the agency has successfully resolved issues relating to Burrow Pit Owners, Private School Proprietors, and various transport unions like RTEAN, NURTW, and PDOW, addressing tax-related and compliance issues as well as reducing touting activities on roads and motor parks.
On onboarding, he said the Board also carried out an onboarding exercise for Data Collection Agents (DCAs) and partnered with institutions such as the University of Benin for staff training on taxation.
The EIRS boss, who also spoke on the new federal government tax reforms and their implications, assured that, in line with the reforms, the agency would intensify its public enlightenment efforts to ensure taxpayers are fully aware of the changes and how they would affect them.
He appealed to taxpayers not to view paying taxes as a burden but as part of their contributions towards the development of the state.
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