KW-IRS pays courtesy call on Commissioner for BIT, seeks productive synergy

The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, (KW-IRS), Shade Omoniyi in the company of management staff of the Service paid a working visit to the office of the Honourable Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology,(BIT), Alhaji Ibrahim Akaje in his office in Ilorin on 8th September 2022.

Giving her remarks at the meeting, the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi stated that the visit was to congratulate the newly appointed commissioner and to also discuss issues bothering improving revenue collection from all State-owned businesses.

She noted that recovery of SME loans, capturing of all business operators into the State’s tax net, remodeling of the Isenlo Mass transit, the commercial motor parks, ensuring proper registration, renewal of business entities, audit and timely remittance of statutory dues from expanding cooperative societies in the State are required to improve the revenue base of the State.

Shade Omoniyi also emphasized the dwindling revenue collection from haulage services in the State, the need for promotion of enabling laws to ease collection and melting out appropriate sanctions on tax defaulters.

The KW-IRS boss said there is an urgent need to revisit all existing memoranda of understanding signed by the Ministry involving third parties at various levels, as existing terms of engagement might no longer meet the trend of the economic situation in the State, seeking more robust and productive terms of engagement that will enhance revenue administration in the State.

She appealed to the Honourable Commissioner, BIT, to further look into the operations of the Local Government, especially in matters that relate to the State, to ensure all payment due to the State goes to the State government coffers, particularly in the markets, calling for a quick fix to prevent occurrences of revenue loss as the newly constructed Gbugbu International market commences operation.

Shade Omoniyi added that there is an absolute need for the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Technology to synergize with necessary agencies in the State and claim full ownership of existing and proposed State markets for improved revenue collection for the State.

The meeting proposed constitution of a working committee to comprise members from both agencies to proffer lasting solutions to all issues affecting revenue drive and collection for the State.

The Commissioner and Directors of the Ministry took their separate turns to express existing collaborative efforts and ways of improving on all grey areas as noted by the KW-IRS boss and as they affect both agencies, assuring that all hands are fully on deck to ensure the agency meets its annual budget.

In his remarks, the Honourable Commissioner, Ibrahim Akaje expressed appreciation to the visiting team from KW-IRS, pledging that his team will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice for the creation of enabling laws that will back up all lines of revenue and decisive actions, shall be taken immediately on issues bothering on revenue leakages.

The meeting had in attendance top management and staff of both KW-IRS and the Ministry of BIT.

Signed
Corporate Affairs, KW-IRS
08/09/2022