The Kogi State Revenue Appeal Tribunal (KGRAT), has commenced its sittings and proceedings aimed at resolving tax and revenue disputes in the state.
Speaking at the Inaugural sitting on Monday in Lokoja, the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Muhammed Sani SAN, commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for the establishment of the tribunal and its implementation.
Represented by Barr. Maryam Oziohu Otaru, Ag. Deputy Director, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Sani said KGRAT was established by Kogi Government in November 2022 as a measure to resolve revenue and tax disputes effectively.
He explained that the establishment of KGRAT was in accordance with Section 62 of the Kogi State Board of Revenue Administration, Harmonisation of Taxes, Duties, Levies, Rates, Fees and Charges due to the State and Revenue Appeal Tribunal Law 2017 (the Law).
The Attorney General encouraged the tribunal members to be courageous in their dealings, and fair and just in the application of the law to the disputes brought before it.
“I have no doubt that with the quality of the members of the tribunal, a good output is expected.
“The government will continue to support the tribunal and the relevant agencies in the process of achieving economic prosperity,” Sani said.
In his remarks, the Tribunal Chairman, Hon.James Olufemi Seidu, appreciated the Governor and other stakeholders for the privilege to serve the state in that capacity.
According to Seidu, Section 64 of the Kogi State Revenue Law 2017 allows any aggrieved person who has been assessed and is in disagreement with such assessment and refusal of the Revenue Service to reverse such assessment to approach the Tribunal for redress within 30 days after the refusal to reverse such assessment.
He stressed that KGRAT mission is to resolve tax and revenue disputes in a fair, quick and affordable manner for economic prosperity of the state.
“It is our commitment to provide a level playing ground which will enable any aggrieved person and the Revenue Service of the State access to a rancor free Revenue Tribunal and to ventilate their Tax disputes in a simple and non complicated manner.
“We as members of the Tribunal have resolved therefore to contribute our quota to the wellbeing and economic prosperity of Kogi State by promptly attending to tax disputes and doing so without delay,” Seidu said.
On his part, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, said the tribunal would reduce the incidence of tax evasion and ensure fairness and transparency of the tax system.
He noted that Kogi was one of the few States in the Northern Nigeria that has established the Revenue Appeal Tribunal, and commended the Governor for his commitment to resolving tax disputes in Kogi.
The KGIRS chairman advised the citizens to take advantage of the tribunal to ventilate their grievances as an avenue to resolve any tax and revenue disputes for the benefits of all.
Stakeholders at the sitting included: Kogi State Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Nigerian Bar Association (MBA), Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’Rights Commission (PDCRC), Legal practitioners, among others.