We’ll leverage on AI to boost IGR – NSIRS boss

The Nasarawa State Board of Internal Revenue (NSIRS), says it would leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), to boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

The Voice reports that artificial intelligence is the use of computer systems to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.

The Chairman of NSIRS, Ahmed Muhammad disclosed this when he received awards of excellence as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Man of the Year and Agency of ICT awards presented to him by the Nasarawa State Bureau of  Information and Communication Technology (BICT) on Thursday in Lafia.

According to him, the application of artificial intelligence will help block leakages and prevent human interference in the revenue collection processes of the state.

He said the board has already deployed necessary ICT machinery to monitor payment online, in real-time to encourage compliance with tax payment in the state.

“We came into office four years ago and realized that there were things we needed to do to improve revenue generation in the state. We, therefore, automated our process to block leakages. There were several loopholes where revenues were lost and the only way to do that was through the use of ICT.

“We deployed all the machinery to ensure that our staff was ICT compliant. We deployed the central billing system in both the state, zonal, and area tax offices to ensure that all our staff is ICT compliant.

“We monitor our payment online in real-time and our taxpayers can make payments in the comfort of their homes, using their phones and bank application,” he said.

The chairman appreciated the BICT for finding him and the board worthy of the awards, describing the gesture as the best he had received so far.

He assured that the board would continue to make use of ICT tools in revenue collection, assuring of his commitment to partner BITC, to move the state forward.

Speaking during the presentation of the awards, Director General, BICT, Shehu Ibrahim, lauded the commitment, innovation, and dedication of the board towards the use of ICT in running the operation of the board geared towards revenue generation in the state.

The DG said the application of ICT tools in revenue generation has led to a growth of over N16.8 billion and an expanded data bank of registered taxpayers from 22,161 in 2018 to 345,729 as of 2021.

He noted that Governor Abdullahi Sule had since advocated the use of technology as a tool for development, ensuring that the state provides the right atmosphere for the growth of technology in the state.

“The award of ICT Man of the Year 2021 is presented to you for the effective use of technology which has produced a positive influence on productivity, revenue growth, and competitiveness, demonstrating the technology to not only improve the efficient use of labor but releases the true capital potential within the organization.

“As ICT grows, we hope that our dear state will continue to be at the forefront, and with the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Summit 23rd – 25th March 2022, we pray other organizations in Nasarawa State will take up the challenge and take their ICT deliverables to another level,” he said.

Also speaking, Chairman, Conferences of Nigeria Computer Society, Ayodeji  Abitogun appreciated the NSIRS boss for transforming the wealth of the state using ICT tools.

“We partner key stakeholders at the state and local government levels to drive IT at the grassroots.

“We have been working with BITC  in Nasarawa State to identify the usage of IT in driving revenue in the state and we noticed that you have transformed the wealth of the state and have increased the revenue base of the state through ICT.

“You have also captured a lot of taxpayers into the tax net and we are happy and willing to partner with you,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the state to participate and support the upcoming Artificial Intelligence Summit scheduled to hold on 23–25 March 2022 in the state.