*KGIRS TAKES TAX REFORM TO THE GRASSROOTS AS INFORMAL SECTOR CALLS FOR IMPROVED POWER SUPPLY AND INFRASTRUCTURE*
> By Muhammad Mukhtar Idris
The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has launched a new phase of its taxpayer sensitisation campaign on the new tax laws with stakeholders in the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
The town-hall meeting is part of the Service’s sustained drive to deepen public understanding of the new tax laws and promote voluntary compliance. It also marks the beginning of a statewide rollout expected to cover the remaining two senatorial districts.
The forum provided a direct avenue for taxpayers and stakeholders to engage with the tax authority, seek clarifications on the reforms, and raise pressing concerns affecting their businesses and livelihoods.
The Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Dr. Sule Salihu Enehe, ably represented by the Director of Legal Services, Barrister Abubakar-Aliyu Bala, said that taxation is as old as humanity and remains a cornerstone of civilisation.
He noted that KGIRS has fully embraced the benefits of the new tax laws, particularly provisions designed to eliminate multiple taxation, support small business owners, and bridge the gap between tax administration and low-income earners.
According to him, the Service remains committed to driving economic growth through a tax system guided by the principle of taxing prosperity, not poverty.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr. Rahman Nasir Ichanyi, said the new tax reforms were designed to eliminate roadblock revenue collection, reduce multiple taxation, and establish a clear and unambiguous framework for tax administration between the authority and taxpayers.
Delivering the lead presentation, Hajia Hassanat Enehezei Salawu, the Director of MDAs at KGIRS, gave an exhaustive breakdown of the new tax laws and responded to questions from participants in a lively interactive session.
The meeting drew representatives of various associations and taxpayers from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Egbirra, Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa communities.
During the interaction, stakeholders in the informal sector raised concerns over erratic electricity supply and decaying basic infrastructure. They said these challenges were major obstacles to business growth and their capacity to generate more revenue.
The taxpayers appealed to the government to urgently address the issues, stressing that improved access to power and basic infrastructure would enable businesses to operate more efficiently, expand, and contribute more meaningfully to the state’s economic development and revenue base.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue assured the stakeholders that their requests would be conveyed to His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his attention and possible intervention.
The sensitisation exercise is expected to continue across the remaining senatorial districts as KGIRS sustains its engagement with taxpayers and stakeholders, creating greater awareness, dialogue, and understanding of the new tax laws and their implications for individuals and businesses across the State.
