Date: 2016-02-04

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed will on Monday, February 8 2016, perform the official commissioning of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) headquarters in Ilorin.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said that traditional rulers, representatives of labour unions, artisans and representatives of market women associations are all expected to witness the commissioning ceremony.

Governor Ahmed is also expected to flag off the Kwara State Residents Identification Number(KRIN) which will allow access to government services and serve as an additional source of identity.

Akorede stated that the commissioning of the Revenue house would be preceded by the opening of the four revenue courts established by the state government to prosecute tax evaders and defaulters.

He said that with the establishment of the revenue courts, the KWIRS has the power to prosecute any individual or business in the State that refuses to comply with the provision of the law.

Akorede explained that the establishment of the Revenue service was necessitated by the need to reduce the state's reliance on federal allocation by significantly increasing its internally generated revenue.

He said this would enable the government to continue to meet its obligations to the people of Kwara, while assuring that the service would not impose any fresh taxes on individuals and businesses in the state.

KWIRS was set up in June, 2015 as part of efforts of the state government to expand its revenue base in view of the dwindling federal allocation.