Enugu State has recorded a historic leap in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), raking in N406.77 billion in 2025, the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ENSIRS) has said.
Chairman of ENSIRS, Mr Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, disclosed this on Sunday during a press conference at the Service’s headquarters in Enugu, noting that the figure represents a major milestone in the state’s fiscal transformation under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.
According to Nnamani, the N406.77 billion IGR achieved in 2025 was generated out of the N509.95 billion projected in the state’s 2025 Appropriation Law, translating to about 80 per cent budget performance and a 125 per cent increase over the N180.5 billion realised in 2024.
He recalled that upon assumption of office in May 2023, Governor Mbah pledged to radically alter the state’s IGR profile to fund his ambitious development agenda and reduce dependence on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“In 2022, Enugu State’s total IGR stood at N26.8 billion, comprising N16.2 billion from tax revenue and N10.6 billion from non-tax revenue,” Nnamani said.
He explained that following his appointment in August 2023, the governor issued a clear directive to ENSIRS to profoundly scale up revenue generation, while also mandating that salaries, pensions and overheads be funded internally from IGR.
“That mandate changed the mindset of governance in Enugu State,” he said.
Nnamani noted that by the end of 2023, the state’s IGR had risen to N37.4 billion, made up of N22.9 billion in tax revenue and N14.5 billion in non-tax revenue. The momentum, he said, accelerated significantly in 2024, when IGR climbed to N180.5 billion, comprising N30 billion tax revenue and N150 billion non-tax revenue.
“At that point, the state began to think differently. Dependence on FAAC reduced drastically as we shifted focus from tax-driven revenue to natural resources, asset recovery and the revitalisation of moribund state assets,” he said.
Breaking down the 2025 performance, the ENSIRS chairman disclosed that tax revenue accounted for N51.5 billion, representing 12.6 per cent of total IGR, while non-tax revenue stood at N355.2 billion, or 87.4 per cent.
He emphasised that the dominance of non-tax revenue was driven largely by recovery, optimisation and commercialisation of previously dormant state assets.
Nevertheless, Nnamani stressed that the administration has maintained a deliberate strategy to grow tax revenue sustainably. He noted that tax receipts rose from N30 billion in 2024 to N51.5 billion in 2025, representing a 72 per cent year-on-year growth, compared to a 31 per cent growth recorded in 2024.
“This shows resilience and consistency. Tax revenue remains the most sustainable source of income for any government, and that is why we continue to strengthen compliance in line with existing tax laws,” he said.
He attributed the improved revenue performance to measures taken to plug leakages, deploy technology for revenue collection, and enhance traceability, accountability and transparency across both tax and non-tax revenue streams.
Looking ahead, Nnamani disclosed that the state has projected an IGR of N870 billion for 2026, adding that while tax revenue is expected to decline initially due to planned pro-citizen tax reforms, the government remains optimistic about outperforming economic expectations.
“Our confidence is based on improved tax compliance. Citizens and businesses are more willing to pay taxes because they can see tangible results across the state,” he said.
He cited major projects under the Mbah administration, including the 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres across all electoral wards, the Enugu International Conference Centre and five-star hotel, Enugu International Hospital, Enugu Air, five modern bus terminals, 100 CNG buses, and over 2,000 completed and ongoing projects statewide.
Nnamani concluded by commending the people of Enugu State for their continued support of the administration, assuring them that ENSIRS would remain committed to accountability, transparency and effective service delivery.
“Together, we are building a fiscally resilient and sustainable Enugu State,” he said.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
