Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on traditional
rulers as symbols of an institution that once thrived on taxation to
help in mobilizing their people in fulfilling this civil obligation of
playing taxes.
Governor Ahmed made the call at the weekend during the presentation of
Second Class Staff of Office to the Oloota of Odo Owa, Oba Joshua
Oluwatoba Adeyemi in Odo-Owa, in Oke-Ero local government area of the
State.
The governor said it was important that key stakeholders like the
traditional institution assisted the news established Kwara State
Internal Revenue Service in ensuring that the people of the state
comply with the increased revenue generation drive by playing all
dues, taxes, levies and commissions.
“No society can develop and thrive without a robust system for
collecting, managing and utilizing tax renewed for collective benefit.
Consequently, increasing our Internally Generated Revenue is the only
way to reduce our dependence on unstable federal allocation.
We also need to raise the necessary funds for infrastructural
development and empowering our people,
especially the youths.
I call on you to be at the forefront of our drive to raise revenue to
build higher quality schools, more hospitals, better roads, ensure
more reliable electricity and create an environment conducive to our
people’s prosperity”, the governor said.
Dr Ahmed reiterated his call for constitutional role for traditional
rulers due to their status as a respected institution for grassroots
mobilization, cohesion, socio-economic and political development.
The Oloota of Odo-Owa, Oba Joshua Adegbuyi Ademola Anyeloye II in his
acceptance speech promised to join has with the state government in
ensuring the success of its new revenue drive.