Benue revenue service has no mandate to fund agencies – BIRS chairman Kwaghgba
BIRS Chairman Responds to Allegations Regarding Sanitation Funding
The Executive Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), Joseph Kwaghgba, has refuted allegations made by Anta Igbaato, General Manager of the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESSA). Igbaato claimed that BIRS collects sanitation levies yet fails to allocate funds for waste management operations.
In a press briefing held on Monday at his office, Kwaghgba characterized the allegations as a misunderstanding of the distinct roles of government agencies. He emphasized that BIRS lacks the legal authority to allocate funds to other departments or agencies.
“Our mandate is straightforward. We identify, assess, and collect government revenue, which is then remitted to the state’s treasury,” Kwaghgba said. He clarified that the responsibility for distributing funds to government agencies lies with the Ministry of Finance, specifically through the Office of the Accountant-General after legislative appropriation.
Kwaghgba stated that every agency receives its budgetary allocations through the annual appropriation process and that BIRS’s role is limited to revenue generation to support these budgets.
“It is unfounded to suggest that BIRS is not providing funding. There is no legal basis for us to finance government agencies. Once revenue is collected, it goes to the government coffers, and its disbursement is managed by the Accountant-General’s office, not BIRS,” he explained.
Addressing the assertion that BIRS collects environmental levies without supporting sanitation activities, Kwaghgba noted that BENSESSA receives statutory rebates from certain revenues collected for environmental services. He advised BENSESSA to direct any concerns about funding to the appropriate authorities.
“If BENSESSA believes that BIRS is withholding funds, it may not fully understand its funding sources. Disbursements do not originate from BIRS; they are managed through the Ministry of Finance, and I am not privy to when or how much each agency receives,” he said.
Kwaghgba also denied claims that BIRS has assumed responsibility for waste management in markets. He clarified that the agency’s intervention at the Modern Market a few months prior was a voluntary response to an environmental emergency.
“We intervened for public safety and health after receiving community feedback and observing that BENSESSA was overwhelmed. This should not be mistaken for our statutory responsibility; it was a response based on available resources,” he stated.
While indicating that BIRS could provide assistance to other agencies when necessary, he affirmed that such actions would be discretionary and not part of the agency’s legal duties.
“There may be occasions when we can assist other agencies, but that does not transfer their responsibilities to BIRS,” he said.
Kwaghgba urged BENSESSA’s leadership to seek solutions to its operational challenges through proper channels rather than attributing their issues to BIRS.
“I recommend that BENSESSA’s leadership examine where their difficulties originate and communicate these to their supervising ministry. I report to the Ministry of Finance, and together, we can identify ways to address their challenges,” he added.
He defended recent reforms in the state’s revenue administration, pointing out that the government has seen significant revenue increases due to strict compliance with financial regulations and accountability measures.
“Revenue administration must adhere to the law. Collecting revenue and spending it directly without legal appropriation is unlawful. The budget office, the Ministry of Finance, and the State House of Assembly are responsible for appropriation. Our role is to collect and remit funds,” he concluded.
This statement follows allegations made by Igbaato last Thursday, in which he asserted that BIRS is responsible for funding sanitation services in areas where it collects sanitation levies. Efforts are underway to receive further comments from the Benue State Commissioner for Finance regarding the ministry’s funding to BENSESSA, in light of Kwaghgba’s comments on the distribution of funds.
