Chairman of the Benue State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Joseph Kwaghgba, has clarified that the board’s constitutional responsibility is limited to generating revenue for the state through tax collection and does not include funding government agencies.
Speaking with journalists in his office on Monday, Kwaghgba explained that the law establishing the revenue board does not permit it to spend or disburse public funds.
According to him, all taxes collected by the board are remitted to the Benue State Government, while the Ministry of Finance is solely responsible for allocating funds to ministries, departments and agencies in line with the approved state budget.
He stressed that government agencies should not expect financial support directly from BIRS, warning that such an arrangement would contravene the legal framework governing the board’s operations.
“The mandate of BIRS is to generate revenue and remit it to the government. We are not empowered by law to fund any agency,” he said.
Kwaghgba specifically urged the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA) and other agencies to review their statutory responsibilities and operate within the provisions of the laws establishing them.
He described it as inappropriate for any government agency to rely on BIRS for funding, insisting that the board has no legal authority to finance their activities.
The BIRS chairman, however, disclosed that the board had previously intervened in issues relating to the Modern Market in Makurdi after discovering that BENSESA was unable to effectively handle the situation.
He maintained that the intervention was an exceptional measure and should not be interpreted as part of BIRS’ statutory responsibilities.
While acknowledging that some government agencies, including BENSESA, are facing operational challenges, Kwaghgba urged them to explore appropriate solutions through the relevant government channels rather than seeking direct financial assistance from the revenue board.
His remarks come in response to claims by the General Manager of BENSESA, Mr. Anta, who recently told journalists that the agency’s inability to effectively carry out its statutory duties was due to inadequate funding from BIRS. Kwaghgba dismissed the allegation, reiterating that the board has no legal mandate to fund any government agency.
