Biodun Esan, Ilorin
The Management of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) says it has saved N3.9 billion in the three years that could have been paid for consultancies.
KW-IRS Head of Corporate Affairs, Titilayomi Ogunwale disclosed this this in a statement on Wednesday that the management of the Service was involved in mismanagement of funds
“KW-IRS Management is appalled by the determination of some persons to rubbish the Service for their selfish gains.
“However, what keeps us above the malicious intent and envy is our professionalism, transparency, and the huge gains so far made in raising the bar in revenue generation and good ethics.
“A report in an online medium purporting some imaginary mismanagement of any funds is an exercise in futility.
“Unlike in the previous regime, KW-IRS is today subject to strict fiscal discipline and monitoring at higher levels,” Ogunwale said.
According to Ogunwale, KW-IRS did not control its spending nor does it handle any funds anymore.
This, she added was an improvement in prudence, transparency and accountability.
“While the Service still lawfully engages consultancy firms like all revenue agencies in the world, the management is proud to have ended the era of bogus and often-opaque consultancy fees of the past.
“Within the past three years alone, the KW-IRS has saved taxpayers a humongous N3.9 billion in what could have gone to consultancies of all kinds if the former platforms had been retained.
“The savings from what was paid as consultancy before are now ploughed back to the public treasury for investment and development projects.
“It is this transparency and patriotic act of the present Management that are being twisted by the detractors who are not used to such culture.
“The Executive Chairman and Management Team of KW-IRS have made corporate governance and due diligence their watchwords, and will continue to enforce the doctrine to the letter in public interest.
“This possibly explains the relentless attacks on the government and KW-IRS. We are not deterred,” she added.
The corporate affairs head said the Service was aware of the vast network of conspiracies to sully its image through propaganda and false equivalence as political campaigns begin.
“However, we shall remain true to our commitments to raise the bar in our service to the people of Kwara State without compromising the law or our ethics. We will not succumb to lies and blackmail of any kind.
“Members of the public are by this statement enjoined to ignore the falsehoods, join hands to build a more prosperous Kwara,” she added.
Ogunwale, therefore, appealed to residents of the state to continue to play their lawful part of tax payment as and when due to support the developmental agenda of the government.
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