There are indications that State Governments are intensifying their revenue generating ability, probably to reduce over reliance on the federal allocation which began a downward trend, month-on-month in the past six months.

Early reports from five states of the federation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 also shows some of the states posting over 100 per cent rise in their internally generated revenue (IGR) profile over the five year period (2010-2014) under review.
The key revenue heads reported are Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Direct Assessment, Road taxes and sources categorised as ‘’Others’’.

Amongst the five states that have so far concluded audit of their IGR Oyo State tops the list in terms of absolute size with N16.3 billion raised in 2014 alone bringing the total IGR for the five-year period to N65.6 billion.

The 2014 figure also shows eight per cent rise over previous year’s record while showing a five year rise of nearly 60 per cent.

The figures has been on steady rise year-on-year during the five year period. In the five year summary Bayelsa State raised a total of N11 billion in 2014 alone bringing its five-year total IGR to N41.7 billion.

Taking the base year figure of N4.7 billion in 2010, the State achieved over a 100 per cent rise in its IGR capacity during the five year period under review. Sokoto State has reported a total N5.6 billion in IGR for the year ended December 31, 2014 bringing its total IGR for the five year period to N23.5 billion.

The 2014 figure shows a marginal increase of two per cent against previous year but it shows about 42 per cent rise over the five year period, rising marginally every year. Nasarawa State reported a N4.1 billion IGR for the year ended December 31, 2014 bringing the five-year total to N18.2 billion.

The 2014 figure shows a marginal increase of 2.5 per cent over 2013, while recording over a 100 per cent jump from the 2010 base year figure of N1.9 billion. Ekiti State, though the smallest volume but like Nasarawa and Bayelsa, also shows over 100 per cent jump in its IGR increases by the 2014 report.

The State’s IGR in 2014 was N3.5 billion showing about 60 per cent rise against previous year’s figure and over 110 per cent rise against the 2010 base figure of N1.6 billion. for the five year period. Public Finance analysts believe all states will eventually report higher figures by the time all the states release their financial reports for the year 2014.

They also expected even more aggressiveness in IGR performance in the face of dwindling federal revenue allocation occasioned by the sharp drops in oil revenue month-on-month since last year.