Olu Samuel,Lokoja

The Kogi state government has ordered the stoppage of the use of using consultants in revenue collections in the state.

To this end the appointment of such consultants to Ministry, Departments or Agencies have been terminated with immediate effect.

A circular issued by the Secretary to the state government,Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade seen by our correspondent on Thursday in Lokoja asked MDA that all consultants engaged by them should be disengaged forthwith.

Ayoade said that the state government wants measures to be put in place to nip all revenue leakages in the bud.

Meanwhile,the Chairman of the Kogi state Inland Revenue Services,KIRS Alhaji Salihu Enehe has assured that the service would meet and even surpass the N50 billion revenue target given to it by the state government.
The Chairman while briefing the press on the activities of the Service, said that apart from meeting it’s budgetary revenue target for 2024, “the KIRS is hopeful that the 2024 mandate giving to the agency to surpass revenue target is met, assured that the mandate of the governor would be actualized.

The Chairman disclosed that the State Government has directed all MDAs engaging with consultants to help collect revenue has been stopped, with the KIRS the only agency mandated to collect revenue in the state.

Alhaji Salihu Enehe said KIRS has fully taken charge of all revenue collection in the State, adding that the recently amended revenue harmonization law allows only KIRS to collect taxes.

Enehe said arrangements is on top gear to clamp down on illegal revenue collectors operating in the State.

According to him,”going forward no illegal revenue collectors would be allowed to operate in the State.

The Chairman disclosed that asides loss of revenue that ought to be accrued to the State, the illegal revenue collectors are also equally a security threats to the State.

“Towards achieving the target set by the State Government, Staffers of the Agency have now been well motivated to drive the process of revenue collection with promotion and other incentives”. He said.