Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, (KGIRS) has reminded taxpayers of the need to pay at appropriate quarters, stressing that no taxpayer is expected to pay money to private accounts.
The reminder became necessary following an allegation of fraudulent practices leveled against a staff of the Service.
A radio program co-created by an anti-corruption crusader, Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre, (WAMAC) and Grace FM, Lokoja, Kogi State, and funded by MacArthur Foundation, exposed the alleged misconduct.
Chairman of KGIRS, Sule Salihu Enehe confirmed the management’s resolve against cash payment and revenue diversion. He, therefore, declared their commitment to prosecute individuals or groups defrauding the State through improper collection of taxes
“If we catch anyone trying to defraud the State, they will go through disciplinary measures and such person will be shown the exit door”
Some manufacturers, traders, and artisans in Ogori Magongo local government area of the state have recently raised their voices against a staff of KGIRS and his team for collecting revenue from them without issuing receipt.
One of the traders said” Whenever they come, they will tell us to pay our tax without giving us receipt. Recently, I told them that, if I am told to pay tax and they fail to give me receipt, I won’t pay.”
According to a hair stylist, ” there was a time they locked five of my apprentice inside the shop because I was unable to pay them. There was several battles between me and them before people around me gathered money to pay them N3,500 before my shop was reopened”.
Meanwhile, a similar allegation also comes from Eunice Tolufashe, a Chief Executive Officer of a Water factory located in the Ogori Magongo Area
“When the revenue people come to the company, they acknowledged that we have paid our tax. When we asked why are they here, they said there is increase in the taxation so they are here to collect the remaining balance. We asked them how much are we talking about?
“They said N13,000 but later increase it to N45,000. They insisted that we are going to pay cash which we disagree. I insist that they should give us a Government account to pay the money but they said no. So, those KGIRS team that came gave us their boss account. We insisted that, before we will pay, there must be a telephone number which we can contact to know that it is genuine.”
In response to the allegations, the Director of Administration, KGIRS, Abubakar Mohammed Bello however said the management has started an investigation on the matter.
“We are taking them out one by one. We are poised to actually dissolve it because without stepping out these anomalies we won’t get the desired result we expected. We have designated KGIRS account that has been published. It is online.
” You just have to do it directly to Government KGIRS account. Any staff that is caught wanting, we are going to deal with that person administratively. The staff involved, we are going to take action against him. Now that all fingers are pointing at him, the evidences are out there, the management is going to take a decision on him as the law allows. I can assure the general public that he will be shown the way out because it is a no-no to KGIRS. When you are found wanting, you will be shown the way out”
Meanwhile, the Kogi State NGO’s Network, (KONGONET) is optimistic that taxpayers who have been wrongfully defrauded are going to get justice.
The Chairperson of KONGONET, Amb. Idris Ozovehe Muraina in a media interview urged the government to root out such corrupt practices from Kogi State.
“The engagement Civil Societies have had with KGIRS and what we know as they have transited from manual collection to automated system, we are sure that, whoever goes out there to do pocket collection, should be investigated. If such a person is found guilty, he should be arrested and prosecuted.” the KONGONET Chairperson said.