Cross River Internal Revenue Service

02/06/2026

Your Excellency, we celebrate you today and wish you a very happy birthday. With love and best wishes from all of us at CRIRS.

01/06/2026

Happy New Month!

29/05/2026

23/05/2026

Embrace Insurance Schemes - CRIRS Boss

The Executive Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Prince Edwin Okon PhD, has called on workers to embrace insurance schemes as a means of securing their future and protecting their families against unforeseen circumstances.

Okon made the appeal on Friday in Calabar during the presentation of a ₦1.4 million group life insurance benefit to the widow of a deceased ad hoc staff member of the Service, Mr. Charles Ugbe.

Describing the initiative as the first of its kind in the agency, the CRIRS Chairman said the scheme was introduced in recognition of the critical role ad hoc staff play in the Service’s revenue drive. According to him, ad hoc workforce have continued to show dedication therefore deserve improved welfare support.

He explained that the Service introduced group life and health insurance schemes to ensure staff members have access to medical care and financial assistance during emergencies.

Dr Okon further disclosed that the welfare package for staff also includes the introduction of mid-month transport bonuses to cushion the effects of the current economic realities.

According to him, the improved welfare measures have boosted staff morale and productivity, contributing to the remarkable increase in the state’s internally generated revenue from ₦22 billion to ₦57 billion.

He noted that the insurance policy would not only reduce the financial burden on families of deceased workers but also promote accountability and discourage corrupt practices within the system.

“I urge workers to invest in insurance and savings schemes that can secure their children’s education and future needs,” he said.

The CRIRS chairman also lauded the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, for supporting innovative reforms aimed at improving workers’ welfare and strengthening the operations of the revenue service, praying that such initiatives are institutionalised to outlive the current and future administrations to come.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Service, Mr Orok Okon, represented by Mrs Lucy Enakirerhi, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, praised the CRIRS chairman for extending welfare initiatives to ad hoc staff members. He noted that the gesture would enhance workers’ commitment and deepen their sense of belonging in the public service.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Cross River State Planning Commission, Dr B**g Duke, represented by Mr Kingsley Eyibio, Permanent Secretary in the commission, described the initiative as timely and beneficial to workers. He encouraged civil servants to adopt long-term insurance and investment plans to guarantee financial stability in the future.

Responding on behalf of the family, the widow of the deceased staff member, Mrs Monica Ugbe, expressed deep appreciation to the CRIRS chairman for the support as she assured that the funds would be used judiciously for the welfare of her family.

Edwin Okon
Achiane Adams
Barbara Odey
Prince Stanley Asuquo
Patricia Asuquo

19/05/2026

JRB, NRS commence Implementation of new 13-digit Tax ID.

Ministries, Department and Agencies and other organisations currently utilising the old TIN validation API to note that the new Tax ID is replacing the TIN validation API.

Organisations requiring integration or validation services of Tax ID for individuals should contact the Standardisation and Modernisation Department of the JRB at [email protected]

For assistance on integration and validation service for Tax ID for Corporate entities, kindly contact the Tax Automation Department of the NRS [email protected]

Joint Revenue Board

19/05/2026

*Harmonisation of Taxes and Levies Law will help improve revenue administration at Local Government Level - Adesokan*

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, has said that the Harmonised Taxes and Levies Law being domesticated by States will equally help to improve revenue administration at the Local Government level.

Mr. Adesokan who stated this at the 28th National Tax Conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, said revenue collected, remitted and accounted for, by Local Government Councils in Nigeria remains very low.

He said the 2025 internally generated revenue figures from Local Government Areas in 19 States so far collated by the JRB was about N45 billion, noting that some of the revenue collected in cash by local government revenue agents may have been lost to leakages.

The Executive Secretary of the JRB who was a discussant on the sub-theme, "Sub-national Fiscal Governance and Revenue Autonomy: Strengthening State and Local Revenue Systems Under the JRB Act 2025", stated that the Harmonised Taxes and Levies Law currently being domesticated in States across the country, will enhance efficiency in revenue administration at the State and Local Government levels.

The Harmonised Taxes and Levies Law which has so far been domesticated by 15 States, outlaws and criminalises cash collection and the mounting of roadblocks for the collection of taxes, levies and other statutory charges.

Under the model Law, revenue officers and accredited tax agents are the only persons allowed to give tax assessments and collect revenue. The model Law also provides for Local Governments to choose to delegate the power of assessment and collection of their taxes to States, where there is a need, to make collection simpler, seamless and efficient.

Mr. Adesokan noted that the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act 2025, which was an offshoot of the tax reforms, expanded the mandate of the Board to include promoting harmonisation of taxes, levies, rates, charges and other payments and ensure uniformity in revenue administration across the three tiers of government in Nigeria.

Joint Revenue Board

08/05/2026

₦154m Unpaid Tax Liabilities: Cross River IRS Seals Basin Authority, Federal Psychiatric Hospital

The Cross River Internal Revenue Service has sealed off the premises of the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Calabar, over unpaid tax liabilities owed to the Cross River State Government totaling over ₦154 million.

The enforcement exercise, carried out by officials of the Service in Calabar, followed what is described as repeated notices and engagements with the affected institutions to settle outstanding tax obligations.

Speaking during the operation, the Service’s Director of Compliance and Tax Audit, Mr. Ayi Okon, said the action became necessary after several efforts to secure compliance failed, stressing that tax remittances remain critical to the delivery of public services and the development of the state.

According to Okon, the Service is seeking to recover ₦53.5 million from the Cross River Basin Development Authority over Withholding Tax arrears covering the 2019 to 2021 years of assessment, as well as ₦101.4 million from the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital on Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) and Withholding Tax liabilities covering the 2022 and 2023 tax years.

The affected institutions were sealed pending the resolution of the outstanding liabilities and further engagement with the relevant authorities.

Also speaking, the Director of Legal Services and Enforcement, Mr. Emmanuel Esirah Esq., reiterated the Service’s commitment to enforcing tax compliance without fear or favour, emphasizing that both public and private institutions are expected to comply with stipulated tax regulations.

“In line with the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Service has powers to distrain and impound properties belonging to defaulting taxpayers until compliance is achieved,” he stated.

On whether owners of the sealed establishments have the right to break the seals, Esirah warned that any unauthorized action would attract stringent penalties and advised against such acts.

He further clarified that clinical and medical services at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital were not disrupted, noting that only the offices of the Chief Medical Director, the Accounts Department, and the Administrative Block were sealed during the enforcement exercise.

Edwin Okon
Achiane Adams
Patience Ikpete
Prince Stanley Asuquo

07/05/2026

Engagement Spotlight