By Peter Omopo
The Enugu State Government generated a total of ₦406.77 billion as internally generated revenue (IGR) in 2025, representing a sharp increase from the ₦180.5 billion recorded in the 2024 fiscal year.
The Executive Chairman of the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, disclosed this on Sunday while briefing journalists in Enugu. He said the 2025 revenue performance amounted to about 80 per cent of the ₦509.9 billion projected in the state’s Appropriation Law for the year.
According to Nnamani, the achievement reflects significant fiscal growth and sustainability under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.
“Enugu State collected a total IGR of ₦406,774,321,758.87 out of the ₦509,947,000,000 projected in the 2025 Appropriation Law. This represents an 80 per cent performance and a 125 per cent growth compared to the 2024 figure of ₦180.5 billion,” he said.
He noted that the state’s revenue profile has witnessed steady growth in recent years, rising from ₦26.8 billion in 2022 to ₦37.4 billion in 2023, before surging to ₦180.5 billion in 2024.
Nnamani explained that following the inauguration of the current administration in 2023, Governor Mbah described the state’s revenue base as unsustainable and directed ESIRS to significantly boost internally generated revenue to reduce dependence on monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
“The governor mandated us to grow the state’s IGR in a profound way, reduce reliance on FAAC, and look beyond tax revenue. He also directed that salaries, pensions, and overheads should be funded internally through IGR,” Nnamani said.
He added that in 2024, Enugu’s IGR rose to ₦180.5 billion, comprising ₦30 billion in tax revenue and ₦150 billion in non-tax revenue, marking a turning point in the state’s fiscal strategy.
According to him, non-tax revenue accounted for the bulk of the ₦406.7 billion generated in 2025. He said tax revenue stood at ₦51.5 billion, representing 12.6 per cent, while non-tax revenue amounted to ₦355.2 billion, or 87.4 per cent of total collections.
Nnamani attributed the surge in non-tax revenue to the recovery, revitalisation, and optimisation of previously dormant state assets. He added that tax revenue also grew by 72 per cent year-on-year, from ₦30 billion in 2024 to ₦51.5 billion in 2025.
“This demonstrates resilience and a deliberate effort to grow tax revenue, which remains the most sustainable source of income for any government. We have focused on blocking leakages and deploying technology to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
Looking ahead, the ESIRS chairman revealed that the state has projected an IGR of ₦870 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as “another year to watch” for Enugu.
He acknowledged that tax revenue might initially decline due to the implementation of pro-citizen tax reforms but expressed optimism that improved compliance would help the state surpass expectations.
Nnamani linked increased tax compliance to visible infrastructure development and governance reforms under the Mbah administration, citing projects such as smart green schools, primary healthcare centres across all wards, the Enugu International Conference Centre, an international hospital, Enugu Air, modern transport terminals, compressed natural gas buses, and more than 2,000 completed and ongoing projects across the state.
