From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Governor Yahaya Bello
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has pronounced the sacking of the entire staff of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, KIRS for poor performance.
Following the development, Governor Bello immediately constituted an Interim Management Committee to oversee the affairs of the Agency to boost the revenue capacity of the state so as to justify the purpose for which the organization was set up.
Our Correspondent learnt that the sack was as a result of the fact that the service was not able to meet the deadline of amount required from them since the beginning of the year.
Our Reporter also reliably gathered that the inability of the revenue agency to meet the required N1 Billion monthly generated revenue was responsible for the disbandment of the agency.
Our source further revealed that the state government was not comfortable with its inability to embark on any meaningful projects since January 2020 due to poor internally revenue generation from the agency.
However, a statement issued late last night by the state commissioner for information and communication, Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the development adding that the Finance Commissioner , Ashiwaju Idris Ashiru has been appointed to head Interim Management Committe that would run the Agency with immediate effect.
“The Kogi State Governor has suspended the Management of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service with immediate effect and appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the daily activities of the Service.”
Fanwo who was responding to inquiry from our correspondent said the suspension was predicated on “violation of corporate governance in the service”, saying the State Government had to act to save the Service from further violations.
“Yes, the Management has been suspended”, he said, explaining that the decision came as a result the 2019 Audited Financial Report of the Service.
“The Governor is conscious of things that have to do with excellent corporate governance, transparency and accountability.
“The 2019 Audited Financial Report of the service shows that their were infractions and the Governor had to take a decision to ensure the Service is repositioned.
“In the place of the Management, the Governor has appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the daily affairs of the Service.
“The newly appointed Interim Management Committee is to be chaired by the Hon. Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris.
Other members of the Committee are the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, SAN, the Auditor General of the State, Alh. Yakubu Okala and the Auditor General Local Government, Alh. Usman Ododo while the Accountant General of the State, Alh. Momoh Jibrin is to serve as the Secretary”.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru confirmed that they have met with members of the suspended Management Committee and told them to hand over to the most senior staff in their respective departments while the suspended Chairman has also handed over.
