Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has said in the last three years, it has prevented the pilfering of N3.9 billion “via dubious consultancy services.”
The revenue agency said it had ended “the era of bogus and often opaque consultancy fees of the past.”
In a statement, Head, Corporate Affairs, KWIRS, Mrs. Titilayomi Ogunwale, said “unlike in the previous regime, KW-IRS is today subject to strict fiscal discipline and monitoring at higher levels. It does not control its spending, nor does it handle any fund anymore. This is an improvement in prudence, transparency and accountability.”
She added that the agency “is appalled by the weight of bile and determination of some persons to undermine the Service for their selfish gains.
“However, what keeps us above the malicious intent and envy is our professionalism, transparency and the huge gains so far made in raising the bar in revenue generation and good ethics.
“A report in an online medium purporting some imaginary mismanagement of any funds is an exercise in futility.
“The savings from what was paid as consultancy before are now ploughed back to the public treasury for investment and development projects.
“It is this transparency and patriotic act of the current management that are being twisted by the detractors, who are not used to such culture.
“The Service is aware of the vast network of conspiracies to sully its image through propaganda and false equivalence as political campaigns begin. However, we shall remain true to our commitments to raise the bar in our service to the people of Kwara State without compromising the law or our ethics. We will not succumb to lies and blackmail of any kind.
“The public are enjoined to ignore the falsehoods, join hands to build a more prosperous Kwara, and continue to play their lawful part of tax payment as and when due to support the developmental agenda of the government.”