By Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi
When Alhaji Yahaya Bello assumed office as Governor of Kogi State in January 2016, the state’s monthly internally generated revenue (IGR) stood at approximately ₦300 million, while available resources were insufficient to meet the competing demands of governance and public-sector obligations.
Rather than dwell on the challenges inherited from previous administrations, Bello embarked on a revenue reform initiative aimed at strengthening the state’s internal revenue base, improving collection and reducing dependence on federal allocations.
A major component of this initiative was the construction of the Kogi State Revenue House, a landmark edifice designed to provide an institutional home for revenue administration and reflect the government’s commitment to modernising the state’s revenue system.
The project went beyond constructing an impressive government building. It formed part of a broader strategy to strengthen revenue operations, improve administrative coordination and establish a more structured environment for tax administration and taxpayer engagement.
Under Bello’s administration, Kogi State’s monthly IGR reportedly rose from approximately ₦300 million to over ₦1 billion during the first quarter of the revenue reform drive, with collections subsequently reported to have surpassed ₦2 billion before he left office in January 2024.
The commissioning of the Revenue House attracted prominent religious leaders, including His Eminence Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and the late Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, underscoring the significance attached to the project.
Beyond revenue generation and infrastructure development, the initiative also created employment opportunities for Kogi youths. Following the development of the Revenue House, the state government announced recruitment opportunities for qualified applicants, attracting interest from thousands young people across the state and beyond. The recruitment exercise provided opportunities for professionals and other qualified candidates to contribute to revenue administration and public service.
The Revenue House therefore represented three interconnected aspects of the administration’s revenue agenda: investment in public infrastructure, expansion of internally generated revenue and the creation of employment opportunities for thousands of Kogites.
From a reported monthly IGR of approximately ₦300 million to collections exceeding ₦1 billion during the early reform period, and subsequently surpassing ₦2 billion, the revenue initiative became a notable feature of Bello’s economic and administrative record.
The Kogi State Revenue House remains a prominent symbol of that initiative, reflecting the administration’s drive to strengthen the state’s revenue-generating capacity, develop public institutions and create opportunities for its people.
– Comrade Danfulani Lukman Ohinoyi writes from Okene/
