The Enugu State Government has recorded a historic surge in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), generating a total of N406.77 billion in 2025, the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ENSIRS) has announced.
The Chairman of ENSIRS, Mr Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, disclosed this on Sunday during a press briefing at the Service’s headquarters in Enugu, describing the feat as a major milestone in the state’s fiscal transformation under the administration of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
According to Nnamani, the N406.77 billion IGR realised in 2025 represents about 80 per cent performance of the N509.95 billion revenue projection contained in the state’s 2025 Appropriation Law. He noted that the figure also marks a 125 per cent increase over the N180.5 billion generated in 2024.
He recalled that on assumption of office in May 2023, Governor Mbah pledged to radically transform the state’s revenue profile in order to fund his ambitious development agenda and reduce reliance 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 significantly scale up revenue generation, while mandating that salaries, pensions and overheads be funded strictly from IGR.
“That directive changed the mindset of governance in Enugu State,” he said.
Nnamani stated that by the end of 2023, the state’s IGR had increased to N37.4 billion, made up of N22.9 billion in tax revenue and N14.5 billion in non-tax revenue. The growth, he noted, accelerated sharply 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.
Providing a breakdown of the 2025 figures, 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 attributed the dominance of non-tax revenue to the recovery, optimisation and commercialisation of previously dormant state assets.
However, Nnamani emphasised that the administration has remained committed to the sustainable growth of tax revenue. 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 31 per cent growth recorded in 2024.
“This shows resilience and consistency. Tax revenue remains the most sustainable source of income for any government, which is why we continue to strengthen compliance in line with existing tax laws,” he said.
He attributed the improved performance to efforts to block revenue leakages, deploy technology in 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, noting that while tax revenue may decline initially due to proposed pro-citizen tax reforms, the government remains optimistic about surpassing 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 highlighted key projects executed by the Mbah administration, including 260 Smart Green Schools, 260 Type II 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 across the state.
Nnamani commended the people of Enugu State for their continued support of the administration, assuring them that ENSIRS remains 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 with Second Class(Upper Division) at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
