Mbah to set up committee for Enugu tax review amid allegations of increase
October 18, 2025 | Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has announced plans to constitute a committee for a comprehensive Enugu tax review following allegations of tax increases in the state.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on External Relations, Mr. Uche Anichukwu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday, clarifying that the Mbah administration has not increased any tax rate but only expanded the tax net.
Anichukwu explained that the rise in Enugu’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) resulted from the introduction of electronic payment systems and digital technology that blocked revenue leakages and improved accountability. Enugu tax review
Enugu IGR rises to ₦180bn under Mbah’s reforms – http://gmtnewsng.com
He accused individuals who benefited from the “old corrupt order” in revenue collection of sponsoring false narratives about taxation in Enugu State to discredit ongoing reforms.
Governor Mbah cited data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which ranked Enugu fifth on the 2024 IGR table with ₦180.05 billion, up from ₦37 billion in 2023. Lagos State topped the list with ₦1.26 trillion, followed by Rivers (₦317.3 billion), the FCT (₦282.3 billion), and Ogun (₦194.9 billion).
“The taxation issue being circulated is actually misplaced,” Mbah said. “However, I have committed to setting up a tax review committee that will include market unions, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and other stakeholders to review what is happening in our tax space and make recommendations.”
The governor stressed that his administration lacks the legal authority to unilaterally increase tax rates, as personal and company income taxes are legislated by the National Assembly (NASS).
National Bureau of Statistics – 2024 IGR Report – https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng
According to him, what the government did was to reform the system by ensuring that tax payments now go directly into state coffers, ending the era when agents collected cash from traders, drivers, and Keke operators with paper receipts.
“Once you initiate reforms that displace entrenched interests, you should expect resistance. These people will fight back with misinformation,” Mbah added. “That’s why the Enugu tax review committee will clarify facts and restore public confidence.”
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to transparent and technology-driven revenue collection as part of his administration’s broader vision to make Enugu the preferred destination for investment and sustainable development.
