The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) on Tuesday, 20th April, 2021 received in audience the principal officers of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) as part of its working visit for the 6th Annual International Academic Conference on Account and Finance held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

The Conference hosted in collaboration with the University of Ilorin has its focus on Tax planning and policy as one of the key areas needed for business growth.

In her welcome address, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi appreciated the presence of the visiting team, commended that the institute has no doubt contributed immensely to the development of the nation’s financial sector given its over 52,000 membership spread across Nigeria.

In her response, the 56th President of the Institute, Dame Onome Joy Adewuyi expressed her delight over KW-IRS Executive Chairman’s exemplary leadership qualities which has led her to becoming the Managing Director/Chief Executive of FBN Mortgages Limited, Group Head, Public sector of the First Bank covering Lagos state and Federal Agencies in the state.

She further noted that her wealth of knowledge in the financial sector is no doubt parts of the reasons she became the favorite of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the post of Executive Chairman of the Service.

In her words of assurance on the Executive Chairman, Adewuyi said “We have confidence that you are bringing to bear your industry experience into improving the revenue base of Kwara State and this is reflecting in the state’s steady increase in the internally generated revenue in recent times moving from a ranking of 16th position in 2018 to the 5th position in 2019”

The continuous engagement of stakeholders, non-financial supportive policies and effective communication strategies for taxpayers especially the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), increased investment in digital technology to capture digital enterprises are some of the issues discussed during the familiarization visit.

She lauded the Executive Chairman for the various opportunities given to the ICAN members in the Service while appealing for a more robust support by enrolling members for more training programs.

“ICAN is willing to collaborate with KW-IRS through its Taxation and Fiscal Policy Faculty to build capacity of its members in the area of tax administration”, she said.

Reacting to some of the issues raised by the ICAN president with cognizance to areas of technology, the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi explained that the Service started the implementation of its technology solution to tax administration in January, 2020 but was halted by the outbreak of the global pandemic, though the Service has been able to beat its target in the first quarter of 2021 giving the credit to the adoption of technology introduced to the collection process.

Shade Omoniyi further reiterated continuous support of the Service to every member of staff for the achievement of the overall goal of the Service.

She assured that KW-IRS had always taken into consideration professional qualification even during recruitment exercises and it is not relenting its effort in continuous training and retraining of the staff both at all levels.

The courtesy call had in attendance top Management staff of KW-IRS, ICAN Management members and ICAN members who doubles as staff of KW-IRS.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
20th April, 2021.

…Generates N9.5bn in Q1 2021

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS),on Tuesday, 20th April, 2021,announced that it generated N9,598,504,939.90 in the first quarter of 2021, a feat it credited to its increased adoption of technology and steady blockage of leakages within the tax administration system.

The figure is the highest ever collected by the agency without any extraordinary item at any quarter since its founding in 2016.

Addressing a news briefing in Ilorin, the State capital, KW-IRS Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi, explained that the drop in revenue generation in 2020 was expected because of the COVID-19 restrictions, Kwara’s uncompromising adherence to tax break and waivers for businesses during the period, and the fact of its operations being majorly manual as at last year, 2020.

She said the hugely manual nature of its operations as of last year meant that its staff were unable to move around to collect taxes as COVID-19 hit harder.

Omoniyi said the feat was recorded without any new raise in the tax rate, even as the agency made deliberate steps to tackle multiple taxation.

Her words: “Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) since inception has operated a manual tax administration system. This means assessment and collection of relevant taxes payable to the State Government from both KW-IRS and other MDAs are on contact basis. Despite this, the Service has recorded steady IGR growth over the years. Upon its assumption of office in October 2019, the Service’s new management began working tirelessly to sustain this momentum. These efforts culminated in the IGR growth from N23billion as at 30th September to N30.7billion as at the end of the year, 2019.

“The Service did not rest on its oars as various revenue and cost-cutting initiatives were immediately implemented to shore up the State IGR while it worked assiduously to automate its revenue and tax administration processes. The various revenue leakage blockages paid off when in quarter one of 2020,the Service generated N7billion. However, with the spread of the Corona Virusand subsequent lockdown of the State by the government towards the end of March and up until May, the State IGR plummeted to N2billion. Given that the state’s economy was greatly affected by the lockdown and the State’s collection system was still contact-based as at this time, it was only to be expected that no serious activities would happen in the revenue space for that period. It is also known that Kwara State was one of the States who followed the Covid19 protocols fully which is a main factor for the Q2 2020 revenue performance. In addition, you may recall that the State was adjudged as one of the highest in performance and proactiveness in the fight against Covid19 on all indices by various monitoring entities. Recently, there was a  similar feat of the government in the administration of the Covid19 vaccination where the State topped all other States.

“Notwithstanding, with the gradual easing of the lockdown, revenue generation by the Service again shot up to N4billion in Q3 2020 and N6billion in the Q4 of 2020. Thus, it is made obvious that the low IGR figures in Q2 and Q3 and consequent dip in 2020 IGR performance are solely attributable to the Covid-19 incidence and our contact-based collection which proved quite ineffective while the lockdown lasted. These observations were enumerated in the quarterly revenue collections reports released by the Service in year 2020.

“The Service has since then not stopped working round the clock to recover lost grounds. Thus, in the first quarter of 2021, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) recorded an Internally Generated Revenue of N9,598,504,939.90 (Nine Billion, Five Hundred and Ninety Eight Million, Five Hundred and Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty Nine Naira, Ninety Kobo Only), the highest so far in the history of the Service without an extraordinary item.

“Having mapped out strategies to achieving its IGR target for the current fiscal year, the first quarter collections show steady and significant growth, month-on-month as indicated below:

“This feat of KW-IRS in Q1, 2021 was a great improvement over the N6, 227,099,973.42 raked in, in the last quarter of 2020. It is a reflection of the relentless efforts of the Service in bringing seamlessness to Tax Administration through automation and introduction of online payment platforms to ease payment of all taxes. It is also a reflection of the Harmonized Bill recently introduced to serve the following benefits among others: calculates, consolidates and communicates all payable tax revenue and non-tax revenue as applicable to each eligible taxpayer in the State, within any assessment year; Brings all eligible businesses into the Tax net; Stops illegal negotiations between taxpayers and collectors in the Ministries or KW-IRS offices and prevents diversion of funds; Displays all taxes due for payment by a particular taxpayer to block most of the leakages and educates on double and multiple taxation by showing that a single entity or taxpayer could be charged to different revenue lines depending on nature of business.

“In addition to the Harmonized Bill, other initiatives have been introduced. This includes re-profiling of our taxpayers, making mandato y the submission of schedules along remittances; carrying out prompt enforcement on recalcitrant taxpayers, expansion of ticketing model for the informal sector etc. The remarkable growth in the 2021 first quarter IGR is equally an indication that the Kwara State Government continues in its efforts to ensure the economic activities of the State recovers fast from the crippling effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, in spite of the drive to increase IGR, has not introduced new taxes since the inception of the administration of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the required and legitimate taxes due are what are being paid by taxpayers and collected appropriately into the coffers of the State. All revenue lines of the MDAs in Kwara State are same as approved and as provided by existing relevant laws.

“KW-IRS will continue to work to ensure improvement in revenue generation; a veritable support for the Federal allocation to ensure the State Government meets its responsibilities and the desires of Kwarans. The Service will also continue its collaboration with all MDAs and Stakeholders in the State for effective and efficient collection of all that is legally due from taxpayers. The Service will strategically and systematically play its part by using the most appropriate technology and committed workforce for the growth of revenue for the State.”

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
20th April,2021

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, (KW-IRS), received an award of recognition and outstanding performance from the University of Ilorin, Tax Club.

The president of the club, Musa Kalejaiye, in the company of his vice, Lanre Sanni, during the presentation at the phase two, head office of KW-IRS on Commissioner’s Lodge Way, GRA, Ilorin, stated, that the tax club has enjoyed the great partnership of KW-IRS since inception and the award was to appreciate the tremendous support and attendance of the Service at the just concluded 2021 National Tax Colloquium 3.0, in particular, and the continuous support to the promotion of tax education and activities in Kwara State.

Musa added that the club is not relenting in its tax sensitization drive on the youths,so as to develop the minds of young ones to becoming tax compliant citizens.

Receiving the awards on behalf of the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi, was the Director, Accounts and Finance, Omolara Ojulari.

Omolara Ojulari appreciated the club and reiterated the support of the Service to the growth of the club, tax education and in building the future of the State and Country at large.

She encouraged members of the tax club to keep up the good work of enlightening their peers on the importance of taxation to the economy and be good ambassadors of their families, the school and Kwara State.

Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
12th April,2021.

This is to notify the General Public that the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, (KW-IRS) is recruiting Revenue Officers into Area Offices in the following locations:
Baruten,
Edu,
Ekiti,
Ifelodun,
Irepodun,
Isin,
Offa,
Oke-Ero,
Oyun,
Patigi.

Limited positions are available to be occupied for the grades of Revenue Trainee and Revenue Assistant.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

Interested applicants are expected to possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree/Higher National Diploma with minimum of second class lower division/lower credit or its equivalent.

• NYSC (Completion/Exemption/Exclusion) certificate is mandatory.

• No work experience is required for Revenue Trainees.

• Minimum of 3 years work experience for Revenue Assistant.

• Relevant professional or postgraduate qualification may be used in place of work experience.

• Maximum age of 30, with evidence of birth certificate/declaration of age.

Knowledge of Tax Administration is an additional advantage.

METHOD OF APPLICATION:

Applicants are to visit www.irs.kw.gov.ng/careers/ to apply and submit their CV, Degree Certificate and passport photograph.

Please note that recruitment is for ONLY Area Offices and application is FREE.

The portal opens on the 12th April, 2021 and closes on 16th April, 2021.

Signed
Shade Omoniyi
Executive Chairman, KW-IRS

The Kwara State Hospitals Management Board,(KWHMB), in its effort to ensure quality service delivery in hospitals and enhance revenue generation for the State, organized annual performance review and progress reports session.

The event which took place, on Wednesday 7th of April, 2021 at the Kwara Hotels, had in attendance, dignitaries from the health sector and stakeholders in the State.

In his opening remarks, the Director-General, Hospital Management Board, Mr. Sa’ad Oladimeji Aluko disclosed that, the essence of the session was to appraise the performances of hospitals, identify areas of improvement, towards better performance and an increased revenue generation.

He emphasized the need for effective data gathering, data management and data analysis in hospitals to aid effective planning.

Taking turns to make presentations at the event, the Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Shade Omoniyi, represented by Head, Parastatals, KW-IRS, Adewumi Adeleye, in her goodwill message, congratulated the Hospital Management Board for undertaking the laudable initiative to gather stakeholders in hospital management.

Shade Omoniyi reiterated continuous collaboration of the Service with every stakeholders towards building a greater Kwara, noting the need for all hands to be on deck to develop Kwara by blocking all revenue leakages, for remarkable improvement to be recorded.

Giving the score card of hospitals, the representative of the KW-IRS boss, Adewumi Adeleye, acknowledged the significant contribution of hospitals to the State’s IGR, disclosing that hospitals have contributed well over N1billion to IGR collection of the State from 2016 till date, with General Hospital, Ilorin, Sobi Specialist Hospital and Civil Service Hospital taking the lead.

The Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, charged the Hospital Board to look into the  availability of professionals, adequate staffing, equipment, and blocking of revenue leakages across hospitals in the State.

The Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, spoke on the need for discipline among hospital staff, adding that, the key to effective service delivery in hospitals, include attitudes to work, punctuality, neatness and having empathy for patients. “We need to feel the pulse of our patients and relate with them with empathy”, He said.

Dr. Ayinla further encouraged Hospital heads to monitor the activities of their staff and inculcate the ethics and etiquettes of health services in them.

Other speakers at the event include the Executive Secretary, Kwara Health Insurance Agency, Dr. Olubunmi Winter Jetawo, Dr. Nusirat Elelu of Primary Health care Development, Pharmacist Fisayo Ogunsayo of PharmAccess and host of others. They commended the efforts of the State government in its tremendous support, evident in the number of facility improvement; installation of surgical eye care, interventions in other health care delivery, implementation of the insurance scheme, which brings about affordable and accessible health care delivery to a wider number of people in the State.

Speaking further at the event, PharmAccess implored the State government to further invest in major health facilities like MRI, CT Scan, Haematology and Renal as there are lots of referrals to private hospitals within and outside the State, stating that such investment will not only increase IGR but will also bring development to the State.

Other participants at the event are the Chief Medical Directors and other staff of hospitals in the State, they applauded the initiative as a step in the right direction, and stated that “It is imperative that we as health care workers play our part by ascertaining quality service delivery is given to our people at all times, as other parties involved in the business of health care in the State, also play their part”

Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
7th April 2021

…Lauds R.T.E.A.N on the completion of Secretariat Complex in Ilorin.

In line with the resolve of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) to continue to collaborate with stakeholders in the State, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi, was represented by the Head, Informal Sector Department, KW-IRS Maimunat Amasa and other staff of the Service, at the occasion of the commissioning of the newly built secretariat complex of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (R.T.E.A.N) in Ilorin on Thursday 1st April, 2021.

Declaring the ceremony open,the Chairman,R.T.E.A.N, Kwara State, Alhaji
Abdulrahman Olayinka Onikijipa, welcomed all distinguished guests to the auspicious ocassion.

In his opening remarks, the National President R.T.E.A.N, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, commended the Kwara State Chapter of the Association for fostering peace and unity amongst members and various stakeholders in the State, imploring them to remain humble and be good ambassadors of the association, the State of harmony,their families and
Nigeria in general.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly,  Engr. Yahaya Danladi  lauded the manner in which RTEAN, Kwara State chapter, has operated in peace, love and unity over the years,which has brought remarkable recognition and prestige to the association in the State.

Engr. Danladi further expressed satisfaction in the manner the RTEAN has related peacefully with other sister unions in the State and at the national level.

He further assured the Association of the support of Governor Abdulrahman-led administration in the provision of social amenities that makes live pleasant for all and in promoting ease of doing
business in the State.

Giving her remarks, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi,through her representative,Maimunat Amasa, also commended the Kwara State chapter of the R.T.E.A.N, under the able Chairmanship of Alhaji Abdulrahman Onikijipa for their compliance to tax payment and support towards an improved revenue generation for the State. She added that the association has been a partner in progress and it is important for KW-IRS to be part of its landmark achievements.Shade Omoniyi pledged the unwavering support of the Service to the association.

In his response,the Chairman, R.T.E.A.N, Kwara State, appreciated the presence of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, the National President R.T.E.A.N , Alhaji Musa Mohammed, the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly Eng. Yakubu Danladi,the Executive Chairman,KW-IRS,amongst several other dignitaries in attendance.

Major highlight of the ceremony was the official
commissioning of the R.T.E.A.N Secretariat complex by His Royal Highness,the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, in company of the Honorable Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Danladi, the Host & National Chairmen, R.T.E.A.N,Alhaji Onikijipa and Alhaji Mohammed and many other dignitaries.

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, (KW-IRS) in its continued efforts to carry out its mandate of revenue generation for the strategic development of Kwara State has introduced the Harmonized Bill as a tool of collection of all revenue due for payment from taxpayers across the State. 
The Harmonized bill is one of the automation strategies of the Service to improve on its collection activities, bring all eligible entities or businesses into the Tax net and enhance collections in the State. 
The harmonized bill is to achieve some of the following:
1.Compute, consolidate and communicate all payable tax revenue and non-tax revenue as applicable to each eligible taxpayer in the State,within any assessment year. 
2.Stop illegal negotiation between taxpayers and revenue officers in the Ministries or KW-IRS, as well as avoid diversion of government’s money into personal pockets. 
3. Block most of the leakages through the display of all taxes due for payment by a tax payer and provide education on double and multiple taxation. A single entity could be charged to different revenue lines depending on the nature of business. 
4. Indicate the level of tax compliance by showing both current and outstanding liabilities of each taxpayer in a single document. 
It is important to state that,KW-IRS has not  reviewed revenue fee or introduced new taxes to tax payers since the current administration took over. All revenue lines currently being collected have been in existence.
KW-IRS has however introduced an approach to ensuring required and legitimate tax due are paid by taxpayers and collected appropriately into the coffers of the State. 
We have advised MDAs to allow taxpayers with arrears, access government benefits when they pay their dues for the current year, while they come up with plans for the payment of their outstanding liabilities.
All revenue lines of the MDAs in Kwara State on the harmonized bill are the same as approved and as provided by existing relevant laws. 
This revenue drive in the State, with the introduction of the harmonized bill, will improve the tax compliance in the State and bring about an enhanced revenue generation which is  a veritable support for the Federal allocation in ensuring the government meets its responsibilities and desires of Kwarans. 
The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service will continue to collaborate with all MDAs and Stakeholders in the State for effective and efficient collection of all that is legally due from taxpayers and enjoins all taxpayers to seek clarifications from appropriate sources when in doubt. 

Signed 

Shade Omoniyi

Executive Chairman, KW-IRS

08/03/2021

#IWD2021 
#WomenAreUniquelyCreated

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), in furtherance of its working visits to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the State, made a stop at the Ministry of Health on Friday, 5th March,2021.

The Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi, who led the team of Director of Admin and Operations, Olatunji Balogun, and other staff of the Service, reiterated that the visit aimed to promote productive partnership between KW-IRS and Kwara MDAs.

Shade Omoniyi expressed her anticipation that the meeting will birth decisions that will help both parties improve their working relationship, block revenue leakages, and meet the set budget of the State. She stated the setback experienced across the globe in the year 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant effects in the inability of the State to perform as expected. The Executive Chairman noted that the Service intends to have an all year Tax advocacy and Enforcement for the year 2021 across the State, to enable it to recover the loses of 2020 and put the State on a better standing.

Shade Omoniyi further solicited more cooperation and collaboration from the Ministry of Health, just as it has always been in the business of revenue drive for the State.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Abubakar Olayiwola Ayinla, while welcoming and appreciating the KW-IRS team, remarked that working with KW-IRS is what the Ministry has long accepted to do, to put the State where it should be in terms of IGR generation. “We are working for the same system and together we must ensure efficient delivery of all required of us,” said Dr.Ayinla.

He did not hold back to mention efforts of the State government in ensuring health care becomes more accessible and affordable in State and also the projects embarked on by the government to make lives much better for all Kwarans.

Dr. Ayinla added that the provision of appropriate and required equipment by the government and taking absolute ownership of facilities in the State will not only improve revenue generation but will also eliminate every personal interest that could hinder revenue growth for the State.

The Ministry further observed the need for KW-IRS to also strengthen its relationship with the Hospital Management Board by reviewing some cost of services being rendered in the hospitals, consider medical services running partially free at both the primary and secondary health centres in the State, utilize the revenue potentials in the newly built oxygen plants and other facilities in the State.

Brainstorming further on ways to improving the IGR of the State, both teams reviewed some pertinent issues, such as assistance in pushing for quick approval of the budget of the Ministry to carry out monitoring and inspection of health facilities across the State and attending to some serviceable equipment of the Ministry, particularly vehicles to aid movement and drive of revenue.

Other issues are the need to look into proper regularization of the engagement of the traditional medicine consultant currently driving that revenue line and the difficulty in curtailing the overlap of revenue lines between the State and Local Governments despite revenue harmonization of collection.

In her response, the KW-IRS boss disclosed efforts of the Service on the automation of collection processes to reduce human contact with cash by making POS available at payment points in hospitals. She further promised to discuss issues around overlapping revenue lines at the Joint Revenue Committee meeting with the Local Government Councils DPM and also consult with other required quarters with the hope of coming up with long-lasting and effective solutions.

The meeting of the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS and her team with the Permanent Secretary of Ministry Health had in attendance the Directors and Controller of Finance and Accounts of the Ministry.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
5/3/2021

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KW-IRS, on Thursday, organized a One-Day Capacity Development Training for the Staff of the Revenue Department of the State’s Ministry of Justice.

The training held at KW-IRS, discussed the roles of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice in the administration of the General Principles of Taxation, Personal Income Tax, and Land Administration for Kwara State.

In her welcome address, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi, who was represented by the Director, Legal and Compliance Directorate of the Service, Abdullahi Sheu Mogaji, called for both the Ministry of Justice and KW-IRS to collaborate more in ensuring effective and efficient Tax Administration finds its feet in the State.

The staff of KW-IRS took their turns to speak to various topics on taxation at the training.

Speaking to the laws as it relates to revenue generation, particularly as applied to the Nigerian States, such as laws for the creation of statutory bodies, ministries, agencies, parastatals, a staff of the Legal and Compliance Directorate of the Service, Mary Ibiwoye, noted that the role of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Justice is basically to support KW-IRS in the enforcement of Tax defaulters to ensure total compliance in the State.

On the general principles of taxation, the Head, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Bolakale Imam, further explained that equity, certainty, convenience, flexibility remain some of the major canons of taxation on which a good tax system are built, charging both the Service and Ministry of Justice to build a virile tax system for the State.

He added that for the Service to adequately carry out its mandate, full administrative autonomy needs to be given by the State government.

The Head, Tax Assessment Department, Sunday Agbana, in his submission, explained issues bordering on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Direct Assessment, Filing of Tax Annual Returns, Validity of Assessment, Personal Income Tax (PIT) collection Procedures and Final and Conclusive Assessment.

“When we talk about Personal Income Tax, there are two collection methods of administration- PAYE and Direct Assessment. While PAYE is meant to administer personal Income Tax of people in paid employment, Direct Assessment is for Self-employed individuals/Ventures/Enterprises”, Agbana explained.

On the Kwara State Land Administration, Land Charge Laws, 2009 as amended, the Head, Property Tax at KW-IRS, Olanike Wole-Oke, also spoke on the roles of the Bureau of Lands in the assessment and generation of the Land Charge Bills.

She stated that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, enables the Kwara State Government to consolidate all ground Rent Laws, Land related laws into a new land-based charge called Land Charge Law No. 7, 2009.

Corroborating the discourse on the land charge administration in the State, a Manager in the Property
Tax Department of the Service, Abayomi Ajiboso, took participants through the process of assessment and computation of land charge, adding that enumeration, uploading to the data bank, reconciliation of data, and calculation of Land Charge using the stator formula, form the process of land charge assessment.

The participants were exposed to the fact that Property Tax in Kwara State is taking a new dimension with the introduction of the Geographical Information Service, continuous improvement in automated processes, and system synchronization of relevant MDAs involved in landed property and Real Estate matters, noting that, the Ministry of Justice has a significant role to play in the generation of revenue for the State through more collaboration with the Service.

The participants lauded KW-IRS for the initiative and exposition to ways to enhancing IGR for the State, with a promise to put to use all learning points of the training.

Participants at the training include the staff of KW-IRS and the Ministry of Justice.

The training witnessed the presentation of certificates to all participants.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS
5/3/2021

The Executive Chairman of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, (KW-IRS), Shade Omoniyi, with her team, on Friday, 26th February 2021, paid visits to the Ministries of Communications Water Resources and Energy, in continuation of the working visits embarked on by the Service, which is aimed at strengthening the relationship between KW-IRS and MDAs in the State.

The Permanent Secretaries, Hajia Robiat AbdulRahman of the Ministry of Communications, Alhaji Okanlawon Olanrewaju of Ministry of Water Resources, and Mr. Rotimi Banigbe of Ministry of Energy, all emphasized need to put in place required infrastructure to deal adequately with challenges in the MDAs.

In her statement, Hajia Robiat Abdulrahman appreciated the synergy meeting and opportunity to discuss on way forward to improving on activities of her ministry, particularly in the areas of need for vehicles to carry out required revenue roles and in sponsorship of orientation programs on the State’s media to further create awareness on the importance of tax compliance to the activities of the government.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Alhaji Okanlawon in his submission, also stated the need for both KW-IRS and MDAs to join hands in blocking revenue leakages and judiciously put to use available resources in the State.

He added that illegal drawing of raw water for consumption and water pollution are challenges being faced by the Ministry, stressing that, even though there are adequate water dams for tertiary distribution of water to serve the entire State, people need to take up the responsibility of ownership and management of government resources around them.

Alhaji Okanlawon disclosed the efforts being put in place by the Kwara State government on water reticulation to get water to every household, which could translate to revenue for the State when completed and promised continuous advocacy by its ministry to surmount all challenges.

At the Ministry of Energy, the Permanent Secretary, Mr.Banigbe expressed his satisfaction with the already established mutual relationship between KW-IRS and his Ministry, noting that, the Ministry will not relent in its efforts to doing much better.

He stated that issues they had in the past have been clarified and they now focus on the few revenue items clearly outlined for the Ministry. He added that the Ministry is doing all possible to energize the transformers already bought for some areas in need within the State.

In her response, the Executive Chairman of KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi called for frequent meetings of MDAs and the KW-IRS, in order to come up with common positions beneficial to the State.

The Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, reiterated that the sole responsibility of the Service is to collect and report IGR for the State. She acknowledged the fact, that KW-IRS needs all partners for excellent performance, because the revenue budget of MDAs is the revenue budget of KW-IRS, amongst others.

A continuous working relationship is therefore very key to achieving the developmental goals of the State. Speaking to hindrances militating against proper service delivery and revenue drive, the KW-IRS boss noted that, the Service does not have access to funds to purchase vehicles for MDAs, but open to collaboration, as it relates to working with available resources.

KW-IRS receives monthly subvention, just as all other Ministries and Agencies of government to run its affairs and might not be capable of meeting up with the vehicle needs raised as they were.

She however encouraged the Ministries to draw up a schedule of revenue activities and enforcement, which could run alongside activities of the KW-IRS, just as already being done by some other Ministries.
Similarly, to reducing the challenge of vehicles, proposition of repairs of unused vehicles of the government was raised by the Ministry of Communications to ease movement on revenue drive.

The Executive Chairman stated the consciousness of the Service to Communication with the public and will continue to utilize all options available especially through the use of technology, through its social media platforms to disseminate basic information and activities, as the need arises.

The meeting impressed it on all to look at ways to making the infrastructure of the State more functional, with a strong appeal for the patronage of government services and taking responsibility for protecting Government assets.

Mrs. Omoniyi appealed for better collaboration in all MDAs to ensure relevant and immediate resolutions to support improving IGR for the State are explored.

Corporate Affairs Department,
KW-IRS.
25/2/2021

The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), 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 KW-IRS and the Ministries towards an enhanced revenue generation for the State.

The visiting team comprised, Director, Admin and Operations,KW-IRS,  who doubles as the Ag. Director, MDAs, Olatunji Balogun and other staff of KW-IRS.

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 KW-IRS now has presence in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State, it is not out of place to have KW-IRS 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 KW-IRS 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 KW-IRS 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, KW-IRS.
25/2/2021

The Motor Licensing Authority (MLA) department of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) has again succeeded in the feat of recovering a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle, which was stolen on Fola Agoro Street, Shomolu, Lagos State on 12th November 2020, was brought to the Phase 1 office of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Ilorin on Friday, 19th February 2021, in an attempt to have revalidation done on it.

In the process of running necessary checks to confirm ownership of the vehicle, it was discovered that efforts had previously been made to register the vehicle and the discovery showed conflicting details of persons on the registration and the new number plate registered also discovered to be fake.

Following these revelations by the MLA officials, arrests of seven suspects have been made by the police and they are currently being investigated, as the vehicle had changed hands several times.

Mr. Nzemoa Ejikeme Simon, the confirmed owner of the stolen car, visited the KW-IRS Head office on the 24th February 2021, to show his appreciation to the Service.

In his words, “the recovery of my vehicle after four months was made possible by the due diligence of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service during the process of revalidation.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to KW-IRS and pray that God will continue to empower and enable the organization and Kwara State, to sanitizing our society of criminal tendencies”.

Corporate Affairs Department
KW-IRS
25/02/2021

The Management and Staff of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service condole with the Ajase-Ipo Community, the entire Irepodun Local Government Area and the State on the death of the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo and Chairman, Irepodun Local Government Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Oba Sikiru Atanda Sanni Woleola, (Ilufemiloye II).

We pray the Almighty Allah have mercy on his soul,forgive his sins and grant him Aljanah Firdaus.

We pray that the families,communities and State, have the fortitude to bear this great loss.
Our condolences once again.

Signed

Shade Omoniyi
Executive Chairman
22/02/2021

The Kwara State Government has announced the appointment of Abdullahi Shehu Mogaji as the Director, Legal & Compliance for the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS).

According to the Kwara State Government, the appointment takes immediate effect.

Abdullahi Shehu Mogaji holds a degree in Law at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and graduated in 1997.

He possesses vast knowledge in Corporate governance, Commercial Law and practice, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Company Law, and Secretarial practice.

Barrister Mogaji headed Adebayo Adelodun & Co., where he provided several legal representations and advisory roles.

He was also a staff of the defunct Trade Bank Plc where he rendered legal services,represented the bank on several legal occasions before setting up his private legal practice in 2006 in Ilorin, Kwara State.

In 2014, Barrister Abdullahi Shehu Mogaji was appointed the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser to Harmony Holdings Limited for the three subsidiary companies – Harmony Transport Services Limited, Kwara Football Academy and Kwara Ethnix Design Limited. He also rendered shared services to Kwara Hotels Limited, Harmony Holdings Limited Investment & Property Development Company Limited and Harmony Holdings Limited.

Until his appointment as the Director, Legal & Compliance Directorate at KW-IRS, Barrister Mogaji was the Acting Managing Director/CEO and Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser to Harmony Holdings Limited Investment & Trust Limited, between June 2019 and February 2021.

Barrister Abdullahi Shehu Mogaji is an indigene of Kwara State, married and blessed with children.

We wish the newly appointed Director, a  successful tenure in office.

Signed
Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS.

In pursuance of active engagement across Local Governments Areas (LGAs) in Kwara, the State’s Internal Revenue Service, KW-IRS is reaching out to taxpayers and stakeholders through its Legal and Compliance Directorate.

The team, led by Head, Enforcement, KW-IRS, Lukman Mustafa, has been to not less than Six LGAs as at the end of January, 2021.

Stakeholders’ engagement sessions were held in Edu, Oyun, Kaiama, Patigi, Ekiti and Irepodun LGAS and had in attendance various categories of stakeholders including Associations of Artisans, Hairdressers, Okada Riders, Petrol Sellers, Patient Medicine sellers, Bricklayers, Shoemakers, as well as Local Government Revenue Officers.

The purpose of the Stakeholders’ engagement is to promote prompt remittances of taxes and compliance to all tax laws, thereby enhancing the revenue drive of Kwara State and to also improve the relationship between the Service and stakeholders.

To this end, the sessions in all Six LGAs visited were enlightening and interactive, giving room for attendees to voice their views and concerns which were adequately addressed to the satisfaction of the taxpayers.

The activities of the State government in improving lives of Kwara residents were well appreciated by various stakeholders at the meetings; such as the ongoing renovation of Hospitals, Schools, distribution of relief materials to victims of flood and wind disaster, social investment programmes, provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, road projects and other projects being carried out in the State are evidences of responsiveness of the State government and taxpayers’ money at work across the State.

Appeal was made for more presence of the Government in the State to encourage voluntary tax compliance, towards more development in the State.

The stakeholders from different sectors of economy of the State pledged their allegiance to the Service and Government, while hoping that interactive and brainstorming opportunities of such come up more often.

Happy 39th Coronation Anniversary, Oba AbdulGaniyu Ibrahim Ajibola Olusokun II, Elerin of Erin Ile.

Congratulations Kabiyesi!

The Executives of Offa Engineers paid a courtesy call on the Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Shade Omoniyi on Thursday, 28th January, 2021.

The Five man team led by its President Engr. Dr. Nazmat-Surajdeen Bakinde disclosed the objective of the visit, which was to seek collaboration of the Service in the development of Kwara State through its 9-Point Transformation Agenda, structured around community impact programs on construction and provision of technical and technological service enhancement skills and training within the State.

The team emphasized the passion of the group in making a great impact in Offa and the State as a whole, while its 2 years tenure lasts, with the support of KW-IRS and other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies in the country.

In her response, the Executive Chairman, KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi lauded the initiatives and implementation plans of the group, whose set up was to work with the Offa Descendant Union (ODU) to create a better environment through the top notch 9-Point Transformation Agenda presented and promised supports of the Service to the group.

Other members of the team were Engr. Abdulfatai Yusuf, Engr. Bello Ismail, Engr. Salami Raufu and Engr. Mujidat Bammeke. The Offa Engineers appreciated the availability and hospitality of the KW-IRS boss and wish her successful tenure with record breaking achievements.

The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Acting Director General, Bureau of Land, Alhaji Yusuf Bolakale Abdullah recently.

The familiarization and working visit of Team Property Tax of the Service, led by Head, Property Tax, Olanike Wole-Oke, was to welcome the new Ag. Director General and wish him successful and fulfilling tenure in office.

The visit discussed need for continuous partnership between the two agencies of Government in achieving the automation payment system goal of the State.

Alhaji Yusuf Bolakale Abdullah commended the tremendous work of the KW-IRS under the leadership of the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi and pledged collaboration of Bureau of Lands towards the achievement of the Service’s revenue mobilization vision.

The Informal Sector of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) headed by Maimunat Amasa received members of the Artisans’ Congress, led by its president, Alhaji Alawaye at its phrase three office on Irewolede road, Ilorin.

In his remarks, Alhaji Alawaye, stated that, the purpose of the meeting was to further seek continuous support and cooperation of KW-IRS.

The Artisan Congress charged KW-IRS to increase its tax awareness to draw additional taxpayers into the tax net and equally implored the Service to attend meetings of Artisans in order to enforce compliance.

In her response, the Head, Informal Sector commended the leadership of the congress and pointed out that, the reason for non-enforcement of tax defaulters in the informal sector up till now was due to the global pandemic, reiterating the importance of the Artisans’ congress to revenue drive, the head of Informal Sector of the Service made it known that KW-IRS operates an open door policy and will continue to give needed support and enlightenment to associations in the State as it relate to tax matters.

Alhaji Alawaye on behalf of the congress, appreciated the continuous supports and assistance of the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi to the Artisans, particularly during this trying time of covid-19 pandemic.