By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Salihu Enehe, has emphasized the importance of a collaborative synergy with the media to enhance public awareness on tax education and administration in the state.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council, in Lokoja on Thursday, Enehe said the media’s role in sensitizing and educating the public is crucial for achieving the agency’s revenue goals.
“The challenge we face in society today is the lack of communication. Tax is as old as humanity, but inadequate tax education has led to misconceptions that tax is punitive or exploitative,” Enehe said.
He highlighted the need for proper information dissemination, which would help citizens understand the critical role taxes play in funding development projects such as roads, hospitals, schools, potable water, and electricity.
“With free flow of information and adequate publicity, citizens will appreciate the relevance of tax payments to development and will be encouraged to comply,” he noted.
Enehe expressed optimism that partnering with the Correspondents’ Chapel would reduce the challenges of reaching the tax-paying public and create a better understanding of the role of taxes in governance.
The Chairman also lamented the ignorance displayed by some citizens who fail to recognize that government services and infrastructure are funded by tax revenues. He urged citizens to embrace their tax responsibilities as a means of driving development in the state.
On staff welfare, Enehe revealed that under his leadership, the KGIRS has implemented three promotions, added notches, and introduced the payment of a 13th-month basic salary to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
Dr. Nasir Rahman Ichanyi, Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), echoed the chairman’s sentiments, describing the synergy between the media and KGIRS as both important and necessary. He assured that the collaboration would be sustained for the benefit of the state and its citizens.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Segun Salami of Channels Television, explained that the visit was to introduce the chapel’s newly elected leaders and reinforce their commitment to supporting the KGIRS.
Salami noted that a close relationship with the media would significantly enhance the service’s revenue collection efforts.
The meeting underscored the importance of strategic communication and collaboration in driving tax compliance and fostering development in Kogi State.
