● Ferdy Agu
The Executive Chairman of the Katsina State Internal Revenue Service (KTSIRS), Mohammed Isiyaku, has lauded the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESiRS) for its innovative tax collection processes, describing them as exemplary. Isiyaku, who led a delegation to Enugu on a peer learning tour, also commended Governor Peter Mbah for his transformational leadership, particularly in education and revenue mobilization.
Speaking to journalists after his tour of the ESiRS headquarters, Wednesday, Isiyaku expressed deep admiration for the revenue strategies of Enugu State, particularly in informal sector taxation and land use charges. “I have gotten enormous experience; I have a lot to take home. My aim for coming here is to understand how you collect your informal sector tax and the land use charges tax. I have gone through all your processes and had extensive discussions with your chairman and other management staff. Believe you me, it’s very rich,” he stated.
Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani (R) and Mohammed Isyaku at ESiRS Headquarters
He emphasized the importance of knowledge-sharing among states, noting that development thrives on learning best practices. “You know, knowledge is something you must go out and search for. If you do not search for knowledge, it won’t look for you. Today, I am a better person. I have learned a lot of changes which I have to take back to my domain,” Isiyaku said, urging other states to emulate Enugu’s revenue strategies.
Isiyaku also poured encomiums on Governor Peter Mbah, particularly for his administration’s Smart School initiative, which he described as a groundbreaking achievement. “The first thing that struck me when I got here was the issue of the smart school. I know his name will be written in the sands of history, which no amount of rain or sun can erase. He has done wonders, and I believe a lot of people will come to Enugu State to learn from that Smart School,” he enthused.
Reaffirming his confidence in Mbah’s leadership, the Katsina revenue boss prayed for the governor’s continued success. “Again, I doff my hat for him; I say well done to him. And I equally pray for him – God will be his guide, God will be his strength. As he concludes his first term, another term will be waiting for him,” Isiyaku declared.
He also showered praise on the Executive Chairman of ESiRS, Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, acknowledging his expertise and contributions to national tax discussions. “I said it – the man has done the magic! The Executive Chairman is so knowledgeable, versatile, and very experienced. In fact, let me tell you something you don’t even know: in most of our Joint Tax Board (JTB) meetings, this man (Ekene) is dominating the floor. Even when we went to Kigali, he dominated the floor,” Isiyaku revealed.
Continuing, he described Nnamani as a thought leader in tax administration whose insights have benefited states across Nigeria. “We have been hearing a lot of knowledgeable solutions, knowledgeable contributions from him, and I have seen it practically. So I don’t have anything more to say other than to invite other Executive Chairmen of state revenue services to come forward and learn from him,” he added.
Reacting to the commendation, Nnamani expressed gratitude to Isiyaku and the KTSIRS delegation for their visit and positive feedback. He reaffirmed ESiRS’ commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in revenue collection and administration. “We are driven by Governor Peter Mbah’s vision of making Enugu the most attractive state for business and investment. Our strategies are designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in revenue mobilization, and we are happy to share our experiences with other states,” Nnamani said.
Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, Executive Chairman, ESiRS (L) and Mohammed Isyaku, Executive Chairman, Katsina State Internal Revenue Service
The peer learning tour, which covered various aspects of Enugu’s revenue collection framework, underscored the state’s growing reputation as a model for tax administration in Nigeria. With Governor Mbah’s reforms yielding positive results, stakeholders believe that Enugu’s innovative approaches will continue to attract interest from other states seeking to optimize their revenue systems. GMTNewsng
