BENIN CITY – The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has intensified efforts to boost revenue generation through strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), with a focus on expatriate tax compliance and data integration.
The Executive Chairman of EIRS, Mr John Odior, disclosed this during a familiarization visit to the Edo State Comptroller of the NIS in Benin City, Mr Steve Okezie Ibeabuchi, where he emphasised that national development requires coordinated action across institutions.
Central to the proposed partnership, Odior said, is the establishment of a robust data-sharing framework to enhance economic planning and improve revenue projections.
He stressed the need to ensure that expatriates and immigration personnel are fully captured within the tax net through proper filing of individual returns.
The EIRS chairman also proposed the integration of Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC) as a mandatory requirement for processing international passport applications, a measure aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and improving compliance.
As part of the engagement, Odior conducted an educational session for immigration officers, clarifying the distinction between taxes collectible by federal and state authorities, as well as explaining provisions of new tax laws and the importance of tax clearance certification.
He further disclosed that the Edo State Government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, has suspended revenue collection in the transport sector to ease the financial burden on motorists and commuters.
In his remarks, the State Comptroller of the NIS, Mr Ibeabuchi, acknowledged the critical role of taxation in national development and assured the EIRS of the Service’s full support and cooperation in achieving shared objectives.