By Isah Idris, Smile Sunday.
In an effort to boost revenue generation, the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has introduced hand-held machine for the collection of revenue among Transporters in the State.
The effort was in response to the directive and will of the State Government to improve revenue generation.
The Executive Chairman of the Service, Mr. Aliyu Inda Salami, who disclosed this during the meeting between the Service and the Stakeholders in the transport sector, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society and Security Agencies, averred that it has become necessary for the Service to take such step to enhance the State’s internal revenue.
Salami pointed out that the covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world has affected the State’s economy greatly and as such they have to adopt a measure to block leakages to shore up revenue to augment federal allocations to the State.
He stated that before 2017, in the operationalisation of the law that paved way for collection of taxes and levies in the State, KGIRS, in collaboration with Tricycle, Okada Rider Operators and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, unanimously agreed to issue one ticket for the collections. According to him, “This new directive will take effect from the month of July, 2020 and this arrangement will not in any way hamper the Union Levy Collections but will equally help the State Government to employ more people across the 21 local government areas as more hands will be engaged to actualise the initiative ”.
Speaking further, the Executive Chairman explained that the collection of taxes and levies in the State is a legal business backed by law, calling on traditional institutions in the State to prevail on their subjects for effective administration of taxes and levies in their domain.
In his submission, the Kogi East Transport Union Chairman, Alhaji Ali, commended the Management of KGIRS for the assurance to look into double taxation meted to transporters in the State. He further pledged the support of the transport workers in the eastern part of the State in ensuring that the revenue generation of the State improves to enable the Government meet up with infrastructural development in the State.