By Staff Reporter
The Edo State Government has directed all Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Parastatals (MDAs) to shut down their separate revenue accounts and transfer all balances into the state’s approved Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Account within 14 days.
The directive followed the signing into law of the Edo State Revenue Consolidation Account (Establishment and Operation) Law, 2026, by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The state government said the new law is aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, eliminating revenue leakages and unauthorised retention of government revenue, as well as improving cash management and fiscal discipline.
In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq., the government said the law provides a uniform framework for the collection, remittance and disbursement of public revenues across the state.
Under the new directive, all MDAs are required to disclose to the Ministry of Finance all revenue bank accounts held in their names or under their control, transfer existing balances into the approved IGR Account and subsequently close the accounts.
The MDAs are also barred from maintaining or operating separate bank accounts for the collection, retention or expenditure of government revenue.
They are further required to submit hard and electronic copies of their revenue statements and supporting records covering the period from January 1, 2025, to the commencement of the law to the Ministry of Finance, the State Auditor-General and the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) for a comprehensive revenue audit.
The government also directed MDAs to stop carrying out revenue enforcement activities independently without the prior written approval of the Executive Chairman of the EIRS.
Similarly, the use or establishment of mobile courts for revenue-related offences will require prior approval from the EIRS Chairman, in collaboration with the Edo State Judiciary.
The statement further prohibited MDAs from appointing or engaging revenue agents, consultants or other entities for the collection or management of government revenue without the collaboration of the EIRS and prior written approval of the governor.
Existing consultants engaged by MDAs are expected to be regularised with the EIRS within 60 days of the notice.
The government also announced the repeal of laws, regulations, circulars and administrative directives that permit MDAs and other government institutions to collect, retain or spend revenue at source or maintain separate revenue accounts.
According to the statement, any head of an MDA, accounting officer, director of finance, bursar, treasurer, principal officer or other public officer who fails to comply with the law may face immediate suspension by the appropriate authority pending investigation.
It added that persons involved in unauthorised collection, diversion, withholding or illegal receipt of government revenue, alongside heads of relevant MDAs and officials who authorised, directed, facilitated or permitted such activities, could be held jointly liable and subjected to investigation and appropriate sanctions.
The Edo State Government said the implementation of the law is also in line with the ongoing tax reforms, stressing that the EIRS is now solely responsible for driving and supervising revenue collection across the state.
The government said it would continue to leverage technology to improve revenue collection, promote sustainable development and protect citizens from exploitation.
