BY BERNADETTE IDALU
BENIN CITY – The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has issued a rebuttal to recent allegations made by Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor, a former commissioner, describing his claims as misleading, baseless, and driven by envy of the agency’s growing success under the current administration.
In a statement signed by the Head of Corporate Communications at EIRS, Courage Eboigbe, the agency accused Ifaluyi-Isibor of deliberately spreading falsehoods on social media to undermine the achievements of the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration and the performance of key government institutions, particularly the EIRS.
The EIRS stated that contrary to Ifaluyi-Isibor’s assertion of dwindling state revenue, the agency recorded N10.4 billion in internally generated revenue (IGR) in January 2025 alone.
It further revealed a cumulative IGR of N33.8 billion for the first quarter and April 2025 a notable increase of over N10 billion compared to the N23.7 billion recorded in the same period of 2024.
“The state’s IGR is on a consistent upward trajectory, with an 86% performance growth rate against the Year-to-Date budget,” the statement read, adding that these figures reflect the impact of focused leadership and reforms at the EIRS under its Executive Chairman, Otunba (Hon.) Oladele Bankole-Balogun, Esq.
The agency dismissed Ifaluyi-Isibor’s public remarks as irresponsible and uninformed, stating that he lacks both taxpayer status and professional grounding to comment on taxation matters in the state.
It also noted that his portrayal of tax policy, particularly the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) system was inaccurate and misleading.
“PAYE is not a creation of any past administration, but is anchored in the Personal Income Tax Act of 2011, operational nationwide,” the EIRS explained.
The agency also responded to past claims by Ifaluyi-Isibor, such as an exaggerated N75 million expenditure on International Women’s Day, clarifying that only N15 million was approved and spent.
Highlighting recent commendations, the statement noted that the EIRS Chairman received an award of honour from Pinnacle Builders Homes and Properties on 23rd May 2025, recognising his contributions to financial excellence in Edo State.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government’s development agenda, particularly the Okpebholo-led “Project SHINE” initiative, through effective revenue generation and tax administration.
Calling residents to disregard misinformation, the EIRS urged all economically active individuals to fulfil their civic duty by paying taxes promptly to help sustain ongoing infrastructure and development projects across the state.
