Kwara gets new revenue agency, scraps bureau

A bill establishing the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KSIRS), an agency with the mandate to collect and manage revenue on behalf of the state government and local councils, has been signed into law by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

The new law also repeals the edict establishing the State Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Speaking while signing the new law in his office, Ahmed said Kwara State Internal Revenue Service is a corporate body with the sole responsibility for effective collection and management of state and local council revenue.

The governor also announced the establishment of a Revenue Court to handle tax defaulters and evaders as well all any individual or business that refuses to comply with the law.

He said the establishment of KSIRS was necessitated by the need to reduce reliance on federally allocated revenue and raise additional revenue to ensure that the state government continues to meet its obligations to the people.