By Muhammad Mukhtar Idris
Kogi State Internal Revenue Service has sought the collaboration of the Nigerian Army to drive revenue collection in areas around the Chari Maigumeri Barracks of the Command Army Records in Lokoja, the State Capital.
The Acting Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, sought the collaboration when he visited the Barracks on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, along with other Staff of the Service.
Enehe, who was represented by the KGIRS Director of Administration, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Bello, stated that the purpose of the visit was to acquaint the Army Records of the Service’s statutory obligation to drive revenue in all areas of the State including the ones around the Barracks, adding that the move is also in an attempt to clear the long-standing misconception that business owners who are residents around the Barracks are exempted from tax payment, a notion which has hindered the Staff of KGIRS in carrying out their duties of revenue drive.
In his address of welcome, the Commander, Command Army Records, Lokoja, Major General SI Igbinomwanhia, commended the Service for its revenue drive in the State, describing the internally generated revenue of the State as one of the significant movers of the State’s economy while also commending His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, for taking the bull by the horn in ensuring that the State prospers in such aspect.
The Commandant explained further that the Military, being a constituted authority saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties of the citizens, will have no reason to hinder the activities of another constituted authority like Kogi State Internal Revenue Service saddled with the responsibility of driving revenue for the government for the overall progress of the State. He pointed out that areas around the Barracks except the Mammy Market, which is owned and managed by the Military, do not share same privileges of tax exemption with military personnel and, therefore, stated that KGIRS has every right to carry out its activities as mandated by the law.
He continued that in a bid to correct the existing wrong perception held by the people about the Military being hostile, supporting the Service to carry out its activities will be another milestone of achievement in working out friendliness with the people through encouraging civil matters.
The engagement session came to a delightful end with words of appreciation from both sides and exchange of souvenirs between the two government institutions.