Stakeholders in Edo State have raised concerns over the continued remittance of taxes accruing from the state to Delta, lamenting the massive loss of revenue this has caused.

The concern was expressed on Wednesday during a meeting organised by the Edo State Inland Revenue Service (EIRS) with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) on revenue collection challenges.

In his welcome address, Executive Chairman of the EIRS, Otunba Oladele Bankole-Balogun, acknowledged progress in revenue collection but stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to expand the state’s revenue base.

He explained that the adoption of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) was a key step toward plugging leakages.

“A fundamental tool for achieving this is the Treasury Single Account, which ensures that all government receipts flow through a transparent, centralised account, eliminating cash handling, reducing leakages, and, most importantly, improving accountability,” Bankole-Balogun said.

He urged that all revenue streams be remitted into the state’s IGR account with proper digital records and accountability, stressing that revenue must translate to better infrastructure, stronger health systems, improved education, safer communities, and dignity for citizens.

The Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, corroborated the revenue loss, citing the example of oil company staff in Oben who pay taxes to Delta despite working in Edo.

“When I go there to work, at the end of the month, I still see on my pay slip: tax Delta. All my years there, I didn’t see tax Edo. What that means is that those who work in Oben pay tax to the Delta State Government,” he said.

Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Samson Osagie, noted that meetings had been held on the boundary dispute, with adjustments already made.

He urged the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to visit the affected areas and ratify boundaries to halt further revenue losses.

He further disclosed that his ministry is proposing a Revenue Court Law to create specialised courts for trying tax offenders.

“There is a need for a Revenue Court and a Revenue Courts Law. The whole idea is to ensure that the entire gamut of our tax system is put together in a way that makes enforcement and prosecution of tax offenders easier,” Osagie said.