KWARA state has said that it has the potential to generate about N5 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through its revenue service agency, Kwara state Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS).
The service, which currently generates about N2 billion as its IGR, handles the issue of tax with tact and persuasion based on the peculiarity of the state.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Tuesday, the Executive Chairman of KW-IRS, Professor Muritala Awodun said that the state is next to Lagos state government in IGR.
“That is just evidence of the impact of the reformed revenue collection in the state,” he said.
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He added that before his administration came on board in September 2015, the processes of revenue collection were awash with leakages.
“The story over the last three and half years particularly at the close of 2018 the IGR of the state increased to N23 billion as opposed to N7.2 billion in 2015.
“In 2015 the monthly IGR of the state was a paltry sum of N600 million making 27 positions out of 36 states. In the state year, the state’s Federal Account Allocation (FAAC) position was 34 out of 36 states and the situation of infrastructure was awful.
No less than 45 infrastructural projects were abandoned. Also, IGR per capita of the state was 30th out of the 36 states.
“Though the state’s FAAC position has not changed, it IGR’s position amongst the comity of states has moved to the 9th position. All the 45 abandoned projects have been completed through the Kwara state Infrastructure Fund (IFK) and new ones commenced.
“The IGR per capita has moved to the 7th position and the state revenue collection process has been ISO certified.
“With the creation of KW-IRS 723 peopled have been gainfully employed, while over 2,000 persons have also been indirectly engaged; all these have been achieved without any increase in taxes being collected,” Professor said.