TIRS Goes Digital With Taraba Haulage Revenue Collection
The Taraba State Internal Revenue Service, TIRS, has begun a major push to digitise and standardise haulage revenue collection across the state, as part of efforts to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the revenue system.
The initiative introduces digital processes into the collection of the Consolidated Haulage Levy, moving the state further away from manual revenue collection.
To prepare personnel for the transition, TIRS organised a two-day specialised training on the Joint Revenue Board, JRB, system at the Dr. Agbu Kefas Conference Hall, TIRS headquarters in Jalingo.
The training brought together State Consultant Compliance Officers and enforcement personnel directly involved in haulage levy administration.
TIRS Targets Revenue Leakages
At the heart of the new system is a drive to strengthen accountability and create a more standardised process for collecting government revenue.
Manual revenue collection can make monitoring difficult, particularly where several personnel and locations are involved.
Digitisation provides an opportunity to improve documentation, strengthen oversight and make transactions easier to track.
The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on manual processes while improving the monitoring of haulage revenue across Taraba.
For the state, plugging possible revenue gaps could mean ensuring that more legitimately collected funds reach government accounts and can be properly accounted for.
Personnel Trained on JRB System
The two-day programme was designed to prepare officers for the practical demands of the digital collection system.
Participants received training on digital operations and procedures required under the JRB framework.
The programme also went beyond revenue collection.
Road safety, traffic management, security and intelligence, as well as safe field enforcement, were incorporated into the training.
Practical and interactive sessions were included to prepare personnel to use the new digital procedures during field operations.
The approach reflects the reality that haulage revenue enforcement often involves direct interaction with commercial drivers and other road users.
Ensuring that personnel understand both revenue procedures and safe enforcement practices could therefore be important to the success of the system.
TIRS Warns Against Cutting Corners
TIRS Executive Director and Board Member, Theophilus K. Japheth, said the initiative was aimed at improving professionalism, accountability and compliance in haulage revenue administration.
Japheth also warned personnel against compromising established procedures while carrying out their responsibilities.
The message places accountability not only on taxpayers and haulage operators but also on the officials responsible for implementing the system.
A digital revenue platform can improve monitoring, but its effectiveness will still depend on the conduct of personnel operating it.
Adherence to approved procedures will therefore be crucial if the reform is to deliver the transparency being targeted.
Taraba Pushes for Standardised Collection
Another TIRS Executive Director and Board Member, Magai B. Agyo, said the JRB policy is intended to harmonise haulage levy collection and strengthen transparency and accountability.
Standardisation could prove particularly important in addressing inconsistencies in how levies are administered.
A harmonised system can provide clearer procedures for both revenue officials and those required to make payments.
It could also make oversight easier by creating a common framework for collection and enforcement.
For haulage operators, clarity about legitimate charges and approved payment procedures could help reduce confusion during transportation across the state.
Technology Takes Centre Stage
The move represents another example of technology being deployed in public revenue administration.
Digital collection systems can create electronic records that make it easier for authorities to monitor transactions and assess performance.
They can also reduce reliance on cash-based processes, depending on how the system is implemented.
For TIRS, the transition provides an opportunity to strengthen the integrity of haulage revenue collection.
But technology alone will not guarantee success.
Personnel must be properly trained, the system must function reliably, and enforcement must remain professional.
There will also need to be adequate awareness among haulage operators so they understand how the new system works and can distinguish authorised collection procedures from illegitimate demands.
Integrity Crucial to New System
The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of i4cus Nigeria Limited, Joy Abama, urged participants to demonstrate integrity and professionalism while carrying out their responsibilities.
The company facilitated the training programme.
The emphasis on integrity is particularly significant because revenue collection involves both public funds and regular interactions between officials and members of the public.
Strong technology backed by weak enforcement practices would undermine the objectives of the reform.
Officials will therefore be expected to follow established procedures and maintain professional standards during field operations.
From Manual to Digital
The latest initiative signals TIRS’ intention to modernise haulage revenue administration across Taraba.
If effectively implemented, the digital approach could improve monitoring, reduce dependence on manual processes and provide stronger mechanisms for accountability.
It could also give the state better information about haulage revenue performance, allowing authorities to identify weaknesses and improve collection strategies.
The real test, however, will come during implementation.
Haulage operators will expect a system that is clear and efficient, while the government will expect improved compliance and accountability.
For residents, the bigger expectation is that improvements in revenue collection eventually translate into stronger public finances and better services.
The shift to digital haulage revenue collection therefore represents more than a technological upgrade. It is also a test of whether Taraba can use technology to make revenue administration more transparent, standardised and accountable.
