JTB advocates autonomy for state revenue agencies

The chairman, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Babatunde Fowler, has canvassed autonomy for state revenue agencies in the country, saying that state governments that are yet to grant autonomy to their tax agencies should do so without further delay.

Speaking at opening of the 137th meeting of the board in Ilorin on Monday, Mr Fowler decried failure of several states to adopt a technology platform provided by the board for the collation of some select categories of tax revenue.

Only nine States are using the software currently, he said.

The JTB boss, while commending the Kwara State government for granting autonomy for its tax agency, dismissed fear associated with such development, saying the gains would far outweigh the challenges.

“We want to call on state governors who are yet to grant autonomy to their internal revenue agencies to do so. With autonomy, changes will be made. Some people will have to go because of the strict processes of engagement but we at JTB are ready for such and it will eventually be of benefits. To this end I would like to ask that the Kwara State governor serve as our ambassador among his colleagues to drive this process.

“For states not yet working with technology, we have deployed our software to the ministries of finance in the states so that they are able to sweep their tax on monthly basis but as at now only nine states are using the software.”

Also speaking, Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed of Kwara state emphasised the importance of transparency by state governments as a key factor in encouraging commitment of tax payers.

Ahmed noted that with autonomy granted the state’s revenue agency, the state revenue profile rose dramatically such that today the state had moved from number 18th on the national IGR profile to being among the first 10.

The meeting, which is being hosted by Kwara state for the first time in its 56 years of existence, brought together tax administrators and revenue agencies from across the federation.