Date: 2019-10-05

...JTB Boss praises KWIRS for setting the pace

All Internal Revenue Service Chairmen in the Country have been charged to give the drive to improve the Tax system a top priority.

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq gave the charge Thursday in Ilorin at the Launching of the North Central Region for the new National Taxpayer Identification Number Registration System and Consolidated National Taxpayers Database.

Governor AbdulRazaq who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Kayode Alabi said the tax system is also key and should be publicised in order to have a consolidated database.

"To all Internal Revenue Service Chairmen, we must ensure that the drive to improve the Tax system is given a top priority and it is also key that we publicize the importance of having a Tax Identification Number (TIN) in order for us to have a consolidated database" the Governor noted.

He explained that Tax Payment is integral to the growth and development of every economy and it must be embraced by every working person who wants to see the change we all desire.

Governor AbdulRazaq stated further "we are very optimistic that this launch of the National Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Registration System and Consolidated National Taxpayers Database will indeed increase the coverage of the Taxpayers and simplify Tax Process across the North Central Region and encourage accountability and development".

The Governor commended the efforts of the Executive Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Babatunde Fowler and his team for the great initiative, and expressed the hope that it would bring about the desired result.

The Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, Mr. Babatunde Fowler said the new registration was launched by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo on the first of July this year in Abuja followed by the South West zone in Lagos while Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital was picked as the host of the second in the series of the regional flag off event for the North Central.

Mr Fowler added that the State was chosen in recognition of the path-finding role it has played in the quest towards ensuring sustainable internally generated revenue for the State as well as for the region.

The Chairman stated that the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service KWIRS has designed and executed far reaching IGR reforms that have seen it establish itself as a model for other States.

He commended KWIRS for achieving 221% increase in its collection from N7.1b in 2015 at the time of attaining its autonomous status, to N23b in 2018 which has come to be a benchmark for revenue authorities Nationwide.

Mr Fowler stressed that "it is worthy of note that KWIRS is also the only State Revenue Agency in the Country to have been ISO certified, with the ISO 9001 for Quality Management System and ISO/IES 22301 for Business Continuity Management System.

The Chairman said the new TIN registration system is geared towards building a robust tax-revenue administration system for the country and aimed to improve the ease of tax compliance while ensuring a sustainable and inclusive economy for all Nigerians.

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Tax Board, Mr Oseni Elamah disclosed that the TIN registration system improves on the efficiency and output of the entire tax administration process and meant to provide enhanced convenience to the Taxpayers as well as the tax administrators.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State government says it is ready to support the Joint Tax Board and KWIRS to achieve the task of developing the State.

The State Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi made the statement today in Ilorin during a courtesy visit by the team from the Joint Tax Board to his Office.

Mr Alabi said people need to know the importance of paying tax and to know that without tax, tangible development cannot be attained or come to a Nation as without Tax, we can't move forward.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Babatunde Fowler who led the team of Joint Tax Board appreciated the Kwara State Government for the warm reception given to the team.

Mr Fowler said the Joint Tax Board is established to make ease business between States.

He said Kwara was chosen for the venue of the North Central Regional Flag off of National Taxpayer Identification Number Registration System and Consolidated National Taxpayers' Database because of the progress made so far in Tax and its hospitality.