Kwara generates N6.6b IGR in 3 months

KWARA State government has said that it generated N6.6 billion as internally generated revenue in the first quarter of the year, representing 100 per cent increase over that of last year.

Speaking with journalists at the quarterly media interaction in Ilorin on Wednesday, the chairman of the state internal revenue service (KWIRS), Dr Muritala Awodun, said that the turnover was as a result of successful collaborations with stakeholders early in the year.

He however said that larger chunk of the money N2.1billion was used by the government to augment payment of workers ‎salaries, adding that the federal allocations were grossly insufficient.

Awodun also assured that other infrastructures such as roads, water and energy which had direct impact on the people would also be attended to ‎as soon as possible.

He similarly said that N100M was generated for local governments by KW-iRS in three months, an amount ‎the local government generated in a year before KW-iRS took over.

Awodun however dismissed allegations of frauds and irregularities in the disbursement of the funds to local government, saying that the amount of money was transparently disbursed after‎ meeting with the stakeholders.

He also clarified that the 5-year‎ tax holiday declared by the governor was not yet in force and not for everybody as it must be applied for and approved for the intending beneficiaries before it could be enjoyed by anybody.

Awodun further said that modalities for its operation were being worked out, adding that it would be available for the stakeholder by the end of second quarter this year.