Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government as well as individuals and corporate organizations have been advised to comply with the state harmonized tax laws of 2017 or face sanctions.
Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who gave the advice at the Government House, Lokoja during a forum with stakeholders on revenue generation said government would begin full enforcement of the law from this month.
Governor Bello noted that it was now imperative to look inwards at areas it could leverage on to improve it’s revenue generation, stressing that with the increasing burden to fix infrastructure, provide security and other responsibilities to the citizens, monthly federation allocation was not enough.
He however admonished the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services KGIRS on the need to ensure a human face in its operations.
Earlier, Chairman of KGIRS, Mr. Aliyu Nda Salami, said the meeting became necessary to intimate the stakeholders on their expected roles in boosting the state revenue.
He revealed that under the law, all revenues must be paid to KGIRS account in accordance with the harmonised law of 2017 and Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
According to NDA Salami, cash collection by MDAs was now outlawed, and that the current practice of revolving revenues stands abolished.
Offenders, he disclosed, risks one year imprisonment, saying that nobody has the right to expend government fund without due approvals.
In their separate remarks, stakeholders at the program observed that several taxable opportunities are yet to be harnessed across the state including tractor hiring services and solid mineral exploration going on across the state.