The Management of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, KGIRS, under the leadership of Alhaji of Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, says the Service has raised the collection of revenue from N250 million they met about five years ago to over N18 billion in 2022.
In similar vein, the revenue body boasts of 450 kogites of all professions and mostly importantly, signing the 2017 revenue harmonization law.
The Director of Administration, KGIRS, Abubakar Mohammed Bello, disclosed this on Thursday during the Round Table Discussion organized by Nigerian Post Newspaper at the NUJ Press Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State.
Our correspondent reports that Bello’s paper titled, KGIRS: Revenue Generation, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow”.
Bello, who was represented by Head, Corporate Communication of the Service, Mal. Mohammed M. Idris, added that manpower development and staff welfare enhancement, being one of the most, sensitive and critical success factors in revenue generation function of the Service, has been given top priority by the management.
“We started the year with all staff training where all the staff were trained on taxation principles, attitudinal change and managerial skills.
“In order to boost the morale of the workforce,all legitimate accumulated outstanding commitments due to staff and related arrears were cleared.
“To further enhance welfare,staff salary scales/grades levels and steps ,coupled with a periodic increment were developed and implemented among other measures.
The Director of Administration, thanked the Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for making the achievements of the Service a concrete reality.
“It is most worthy of mention that our current achievement would have been a mirage without all the support His Excellency has given to the revenue body.
“These include; the seamless implementation of a full autonomy, automation of process, employment of over 450 kogites of all professions and most importantly, the signing of the 2017 revenue harmonization law,”he said.
According to him, in order to ensure that the Service is not lacking in terms of logistics and related enablers, the management embarked on replacement of worn and damaged furniture, provision of additional equipment, fixing and servicing of faculty vehicles among others.
Earlier, the Editor in Chief of the newspaper, Mr. Mike Abu, said the event was meant to galvanise various views and opinions of stakeholders to serve as agenda setting for the incoming government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, due to be sworn-in on January 27,2024.
Other speakers at the occasion include the President of the KOCCIMA, Dr.Femi Ajesafe.
Others are Hamza Aliyu of the Initiative For Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria, INGRA, and the traditional ruler of Apata, His Royal Highness, Oba Fredrick Durojaiye Balogun,The Olu of Apata and the permanent secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication, Mr Teddy Adegbola, among others.
They all stressed the need for the incoming government to ensure an enhancement of good governance in the state.
Highlight at the occasion was the award given to some members of the public who made significant contribution to the development of Kogi State and the larger society.