Only autonomy to states’ revenue boards can guarantee optimum delivery—Fowler
The Chairman of the Joint Tax Board, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, has made it clear to Governors’ that the best option to deepen revenue generation by states’ revenue boards is to grant them autonomy.
Fowler, who doubles as the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), stated this at the opening ceremony of the 137th Meeting of the JTB held in Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday.
In a statement, FIRS quoted Fowler as commending the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulFatah Ahmed for improving the tax revenue of the state.
Figures rolled out during the confab showed that kwara state’s annual internally generated revenue grew from N7.1bn in 2015 to N17.2bn in 2016
“The good work that you are doing is evident in the performance of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service. It is good enough for others to follow. We commend the work that KWIRS is doing and agreed amongst ourselves to adopt is as a model.
“Like I often tell my colleagues, we members of JTB must not disappoint Nigerians. I like you to call on other governors, your colleagues in other states who have not taken the bold step to please do and give autonomy to State Internal Revenue Services. Please help us to convey this to them as an ambassador and tell other governors.”
Fowler called on the members of the JTB to intensify efforts towards meeting their revenue targets, he called on the various state governments to enhance funding of tax authorities so as to achieve the desired objectives.
