By Patience Gbemiro
The Kogi Government has inaugurated a six-member task force on revenue generation drive to strengthen revenue administration, eliminate leakages and improve compliance with government regulations across the state.
The Commissioner for Commerce and industry, Mr. Mohammed Shaibu along with the Permanent Secretary (PM) of the ministry, Mrs Sualihat Musa-Amana, inaugurated the committee on Friday in Lokoja.
Shaibu described the initiative as a strategic step towards strengthening the ministry’s operations, promoting accountability and ensuring effective implementation of government policies and programmes.
According to the Commissioner, the task force is mandated to identify and eliminate revenue leakages, enforce compliance with statutory fees, licences and business permits.
“They are to monitor revenue collection processes, investigate illegal revenue practices, verify registered businesses, sensitise business owners on their statutory obligations,
“Curb the use of fake regulatory documents and recommend measures to strengthen revenue administration and improve internally generated revenue in the state. The Commissioner said.
Shaibu said the inauguration of the committee marks a new chapter to the impact of the ministry and Kogi at large, to generate revenue and boost revenue generation .
He further emphasized the committee is not set up to intimidate business owners but to put an end to abnormalities, thereby educating business communities and organizations,collaborating with stakeholders to create a new phase desired in the state.
In her address, Mrs Musa-Amana, the PM of the ministry said the task force was constituted to undertake an important assignment in line with the ministry’s mandate, urging members to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, professionalism, fairness and a strong sense of responsibility.
She said members were selected based on their competence, integrity and wealth of experience, expressing confidence that they would justify the trust reposed in them.
According to her, the success of the committee will not only enhance the ministry’s performance but also reinforce public confidence in government’s commitment to transparency, accountability and efficient service delivery.
The PM commended the Commissioner for providing the leadership and support that made the initiative possible.
Earlier, the Director of Commerce, Mr Michael Ejeh, presented the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the task force, saying it was established to strengthen revenue generation and improve regulatory compliance under the ministry.
Ejeh said the committee would identify and eliminate revenue leakages, investigate illegal or unauthorized revenue collection and ensure that all government revenues were properly assessed, receipted and remitted in accordance with extant financial regulations.
He added that the task force would monitor compliance with statutory fees, licences, permits and other revenue obligations, while ensuring that business owners registered for and renewed their Business Premises Permits and other required licences.
According to him, the committee will also conduct routine inspections to identify unregistered businesses and defaulters, sensitize business owners on their statutory obligations and curb the circulation of fake business registration certificates, permits and other regulatory documents.
Ejeh said the task force would collaborate with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to investigate and facilitate the prosecution of individuals or organisations involved in document forgery and other revenue-related offences.
He added that members would maintain accurate records of inspections and compliance activities, compile data on business taxpayers, submit periodic reports to the Permanent Secretary and recommend measures to strengthen the ministry’s revenue administration.
The director further said the committee would oversee revenue collection and monitor activities at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, New Nigeria Timber Company, Okura Sawmill, Pool Betting operations and other government industries under the supervision of the ministry.
The task force is chaired by Mr Tijani Hassan, Usman Ayinoko serving as secretary.
Other members are Mr Musa Mohammed, Mr Ibrahim Usman, Mr Musa Iliyasu and Mr Zakari Asheru.
Also present at the inauguration were the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr Shuaib Orijo; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurship I, Mr. Khadijat Siyak; and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Entrepreneurship II, Mrs Munirat Ibrahim.
