The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Shade Omoniyi, today, Thursday, 25th February 2021, commenced working visits to Permanent Secretaries in the State Ministries.
The first point of call was on the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, TPL. Isiaq Yinka Oloorukoba, with the DPM of the Ministry, Mr. Mayaki in attendance.
In her remarks,Shade Omoniyi stated that the objective of the visit was to discuss issues around Tax Administration and facilitate more effective alliance between KWIRS and the Ministries towards an enhanced revenue generation for the State.
The visiting team comprised, Director, Admin and Operations,KWIRS, who doubles as the Ag. Director, MDAs, Olatunji Balogun and other staff of KWIRS.
Prominent among issues raised at the synergy meeting were minimizing intermediaries between taxpayers and the destination of their payments, through adoption of complete automation of the payment process to replace physical payment and receipts issuance, which is currently obtainable.
The Executive Chairman noted that automation of all processes of revenue administration and collections is the way to go.
In addition, since KWIRS now has presence in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, it is not out of place to have KWIRS staff at these locations and be responsible for revenue collection.
While agreeing with the ideas, TPL. Oloorukoba stated that gradual taking over of the collection process would be a more effective approach,with better monitoring mechanism put in place, particularly on receipts issuance to prevent any form of revenue leakages or flight.
A visit was equally made to the Ministry of Environment to further strengthen the relationship and to reiterate the fact that revenue drive for the State is for both MDAs and KWIRS and should be seen as such to achieving a common goal of developing the State.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Pastor Kolawole Ojo, and KWIRS team brainstormed on best ways to synergize with other agencies and consultants of the Ministry in the best interest of Kwara.
The meeting further deliberated on need for required procedures to be followed in engaging consultants for Waste Management by the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) and harmonize similar revenue lines in Ministries.
Other issues discussed include the separation of the management and collection on Gaseous Emissions.
It was proposed that the Kwara State Automated Inspection Service (KWAVIS) manages all that has to do with emission from vehicles while the Ministry of Environment be made to manage emissions from stationary machines such as generators and plants.
Modalities for these processes and other ways to improving on current operations in Ministries will be jointly worked out in no distant time.
Corporate Affairs Department, KWIRS.
25/2/2021