…laud Kwara’s IGR performance in North Central
By Mike Adeyemi
A tax expert who also doubles as chief Ojomun of Labaka-Oja in Ifelodun Local Government Area of kwara State, Alh. AbdulRasaq Olatunji Olaowo has said Kwara State can’t attain economic growth without its citizens paying taxes as and when due, The Fact Newspaper reports.
Olaowo gave the submission, recently during the 12th years anniversary of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Ilorin District held at Queen Elizabeth School Ilorin, the state capital.
He said the present administration in the state had realised that without prompt payment of their taxes, it would be difficult for the government to meet its obligations.
He words :” What we have learnt is that if we must make progress as a state , all of us must pay our taxes for the sake of state’s development to foster harmony and economic growth.
“I’m here to represent the 16th National President of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Chief Adebayo Adeshina. His message is a goodwill which I have delivered.
“He was so excited that the CITN, Ilorin has been in existence for 12 years and that it is only few corporate bodies across the globe that can survive 10 years, but on their own are in the second stage of another 10 years, “the chief Ojomun said.
The expert while commending the kwara state chapter of CITN for it’s steadfastness over the years, urge the institute to go out and sensitize the people of kwara to be prepared not just to pay their taxes, but also to ensure that others do the same.
“My advice to Kwara CITN is to continue to keep themselves as one and they should go to the public to sensitize them on the need for them to pay taxation and the need for the citizens to support the governor, Mall AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
“They should also educate the tax payers that when they pay their taxes, they must show the evidence and the need not to envade tax, ” he advised.
He further charged the kwara state government to always seek for the professional advice of technocrats in the field of taxation, alluding to the fact that Kwara state CITN members are well trained, as their activities have positioned the state as the highest in terms of IGR performance in the whole of North Central.
“I want to appeal to the government to always put a round peg in a round hole. For instance, if you put a medical Doctor who doesn’t have any accounting background as the chairman of the board of Internal Revenue, there would be problem. The first thing is that they must let the best person occupy the sit.
“The government itself should give them a free hand to operate. And whatever policy drafted or suggested to government, the state should try to key into it. With this there would be lots of improvement.
“Even at the moment, when you talk of the North Central, Kwara State have the highest of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and presently the person who is the executive chairman of KWIRS is a member of CITN, “the ebulent tax expert stressed.
Olaowo however lauded the performance of the chairman of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Mrs.. Folashade Omoniyi over the years.
“Compare to what is going on amidst the global trend of economic crises, I think she is trying her best, though there is still room for improvement in terms of welfare packages for the staff.
“Herself should have good relationship with His Excellency, the governor, the office of commissioner for finance and accountant general, ” Olaowo added.