By Isaac Mission
Anambra State has recorded a sharp increase in internally generated revenue, with collections rising by 111.8 per cent between the first and second quarters of 2026.
The development has attracted commendation from civil society and community-based organisations, who attributed the increase largely to improved measures to reduce revenue leakages.
The stakeholders spoke during a review meeting organised by Civil Rights Concern (CRC) to examine the implementation of Anambra State’s 2026 budget during the first and second quarters.
Representatives from Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Nnewi, Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), and Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) participated in the engagement.
According to the stakeholders, the state’s IGR increased from about N14.4 billion in the first quarter to more than N30.5 billion in the second quarter of the year.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, CRC Executive Director, Okey Onyeka, praised the state revenue authorities for the improvement and urged them to sustain efforts aimed at plugging leakages.
He also encouraged residents to meet their tax obligations, noting that increased revenue would enable the government to provide better public services.
The stakeholders, however, raised concerns about the way taxes are assessed in the informal sector. They argued that smaller businesses should not be subjected to the same tax burden as larger enterprises with significantly higher turnovers.
They called on the revenue authorities to develop a fairer system that takes the size and financial capacity of businesses into account.
The group also raised concerns over the application of the “best of judgment” principle, saying it should take into consideration the limited information and understanding available to some vulnerable taxpayers.
The review further examined government spending priorities. The stakeholders noted that the Ministry of Works received the highest priority, followed by government and governance reforms, while health and education ranked third and fourth respectively.
They expressed concern that agriculture, despite its importance to food production and public health, had received no capital expenditure allocation for about two years.
Particular attention was drawn to the need for agricultural testing equipment to help detect harmful chemicals used in food preservation and the alleged addition of dyes to red palm oil to enhance its appearance.
The stakeholders urged the government to provide funding for such equipment and increase investment in agricultural capital projects.
They also expressed concern over the non-implementation of capital expenditure under the primary healthcare budget, warning that inadequate funding could undermine healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The group recommended improved utilisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and increased state funding for primary healthcare infrastructure and services.
Another issue highlighted during the meeting was the poor description of some budget activities. The stakeholders said vague activity titles could make it difficult for approving authorities to properly understand and prioritise proposed projects.
They therefore advised the government to provide clearer descriptions, including specific figures and locations, in future budget documents.
Programme Manager of JDPC, Onyekachi Ololo, said the meeting was organised to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to assess the government’s priorities and examine how well they were being implemented during the first half of 2026.
He added that the review also focused on funding for the health sector, particularly maternal healthcare, alongside other critical areas of government spending.
