Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), on Thursday, said the state is now second to Lagos raking in about N2 billion monthly as internally generated revenue.
Chairman of the revenue body, Prof. Murtala Awodun, who made his known at a Media Parley jointly organised by the Service and the Ministry of Information and Communication, said they are set to utilise the potentiality of Kwara State to generate N5 billion monthly.
He added that based on the peculiarity of the state, KWI-RS is handling the issue of tax with tact and persuasion noting that the state is next to Lagos state government in IGR.
His words, “That is just an evidence of the impact of the reformed revenue collection in the state.”
He added that before his administration came on board in September 2015, the processes of revenue collection were awash with leakages.
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“The story over the last three and half years particularly at the close of 2018 the IGR of the state increased to N23 billion as opposed to N7.2 billion in 2015.
“In 2015 the monthly IGR of the state was a paltry sum of N600 million making 27 position out of 36 states. In the state year the state’s, he stressed.
Also, he said the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) position of Kwara State was 34 out of 36 states and the situation of infrastructure was awful.
He disclosed that no less than 45 infrastructural projects were abandoned and that the IGR per capita of the state was 30th out of the 36 states.
“Though the state’s FAAC position has not changed, but it s IGR’s position amongst the comity of states has moved to the 9th position.
“All the 45 abandoned projects have been completed through the Kwara State Infrastructure Fund (IFK) and new ones commenced.
“The IGR per capita has moved to the 7th position and he state revenue collection process has been ISO certified.
“With the creation of KW-IRS 723 peopled have been gainfully employed, while over 2,000 persons have also been indirectly engaged; all these have been achieved without any increase in taxes being collected,” Prof Awodun added.
