Kwara government achieves 70 per cent of Q1 revenue target
THE Executive Chairman of Kwara State Internal Generated Revenue (KWIRS), Dr Muritala Awodun has said that the body within the first quarter of the year has met about 70 per cent of the target given to it by the state government.
This shows a marginal increment of about four per cent above the figure recorded last year within similar time frame. Awodun, at a press briefing in Ilorin said even though the set target by the state government for the quarter remained a total sum of N11 Billion, the body within the period was able to generate a sum of N7. 7 Billion.
For him, the KWIRS would sparingly use the option of litigation against those who default in the payment of their taxes as and when due despite the fact that the state government required a sum of N5billion monthly to meet its financial obligations.
According to him, the Alternative to Dispute Resolution (ADR) remained the best option for settlements of disputes over tax related issues, “and this option has worked out well for us save for some few and exceptional cases”.
He attributed the marginal increment in the revenue generation to the election period where every responsible government would avoid financial issues that could heat up the polity. Awodun, while explaining the rationale for ceding the collection of taxes at the local government areas to the newly elected Chairmen of the councils in Kwara as against the former system where the KWIRS was the collecting agent, said the body would want the councils to acquire the needed experience on the collection said to be one of their primary duties.
Besides, he pledged the continual usage of penalties of fines on tax payers who would not pay as at when due to serve as a morale booster to those pay promptly.
He listed some of the interventions of the KWIRS in the first quarter of the year to include; renovation of Marriage Registry in Ilorin, distribution of bags to pupils of primary schools in the Northern Senatorial District of the state, and clearing of some designated drainages in the state.