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Our Revenue Drive Not Intended To Hurt Lagos Residents, Businesses-Sanwo-Olu
Governor, Babatunde Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has stated that the reason behind the present revenue drive of the administration is to generate enough resources to deliver on the promises and not to hurt residents and businesses.
Sanwo-Olu made the clarification in Alausa while receiving the leadership of the Chartered institute of Taxation, CITN, at the State House Alausa.
The governor who commended the institute led by Dame Olajumoke Simplice for strengthening public institutions on revenue generation through regular capacity building said he would not tamper with the autonomy enjoyed by Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS.
Sanwo-Olu according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said the revenue agency has enjoyed unrestrained independence under his watch, stressing that his administration will continue to strengthen the agency to achieve its yearly revenue targets.
To drive efficiency, the governor stressed that the government has prioritise the agency’s monthly subvention and staff welfare.
He said: “In terms of independence, LIRS has enjoyed complete freedom to operate and we are strengthening the agency for improved efficiency.
“This is why my administration prioritise any request from the agency. LIRS monthly allocation gets to them as first line charge and I don’t even need to approve before their overhead gets to them.
“We have made everything available in order to motivate LIRS to deliver on its mandate and we will continue to support the agency for improvement. I recently approved an increment in LIRS staff remuneration, because we know how important the success of the agency is to my administration.”
Mrs. Simplice said despite the innovative approach deployed by Lagos Government in its tax administration, the state could achieve improved efficiency and growth in its revenue generation.
She urged the Governor to appoint tax professionals as decision makers in strategic Government’s departments and agencies, adding that Lagos must re-invigorate its tax advocacy to capture those in informal sector.
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