22nd September, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Mr. Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo as the new Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS.
His confirmation followed his screening by the lawmakers.
While speaking with the lawmakers, Ogunsanwo promised zero tolerance for corruption, but that people would be highly motivated.
He also promised to put an end to high turnover of staff in the organisation.
Ogunsanwo was nominated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to succeed the former chairman of of LIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler, who is now the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Ogunsanwo, during the screening, told the lawmakers that he is a graduate of Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) after which he obtained Masters’ degrees in Public Administration and Economics from the Lagos State University, LASU.
He said he had been with the state government for 24 years and that there are opportunities for revenue generation in the state.
He explained that about 65 percent of the tax payers in the state are expected from that informal sector.
Ogunsanwo, the Regional Coordinator in LIRS before his nomination, said he was the “best man” for the job while promising to invest in Information Technology, staff motivation, e-filing of taxes, integrate motor vehicle administration, Lands Bureau charges, and land use charges amongst others.
“I have worked in LIRS for 24 years and I have traversed all the departments.
“I am the best man for the job and we will work as a team to develop a first class revenue generation agency.
“We will review tax dispute resolution process because the current one is cumbersome.
“We will use independent tax adjudicators because people go to tax appeal tribunal to evade taxes and consider tax amnesty and move forward with tax collection in the state,” he said.
The new tax boss promised to have a strong and efficient management of LIRS and to build a motivated, skilled and competent workforce.
He informed the Assembly that there is a collaboration between the FIRS and LIRS to do joint monitoring and enlightenment, adding that FIRS promised to provide LIRS with the data of the 450,000 companies in its database.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who confirmed Ogunsanwo after a voice vote, urged the new LIRS boss to address the complaint of the staff of LIRS who, he said, complained that they are rarely promoted by the organisation.