On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State called on the Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) to provide clear details on how it achieved the claimed 143% performance in revenue generation.
In a statement, the APC’s Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq., expressed skepticism over DBIR’s assertion, describing it as an attempt to cover up the poor performance of the current administration under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
While acknowledging the importance of revenue collection, the APC raised concerns over the lack of verifiable data to support the 143% claim. “We find it troubling that the administration has continued to boast of inflated figures without any tangible proof to substantiate such claims,” the party stated. They also accused the DBIR of being notorious for corruption and suggested that the claims were part of a political strategy to divert attention from the administration’s failures.
The APC pointed to ongoing investigations into the previous governor’s alleged mismanagement of funds, including the missing 1.3 trillion naira of 13% derivation funds. “This narrative is part of a broader attempt to cover up the state’s lack of fiscal responsibility and endemic corruption,” the statement read.
The APC demanded that the state government provide a detailed breakdown of how the supposed 143% revenue performance was achieved, as well as a clear explanation of how the funds have been used to benefit ordinary Deltans. They emphasized that the public deserves transparency in the state’s finances, calling for a roadmap that demonstrates how revenue efforts will lead to improved infrastructure, healthcare, education, and job creation.
The APC also reminded the public of its previous calls for reforms in revenue generation, urging the government to address tax collection inefficiencies and ensure a more inclusive and fair system. They expressed disappointment that the Oborevwori administration has failed to address these issues.
“The people of Delta State deserve the truth about the state’s revenue generation efforts. The government cannot simply conjure inflated revenue figures without transparency,” the APC concluded.
