Lagos State Government to Boost Non-Taxable Income Collection

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to significantly increase the collection of taxes from non-taxable Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), aiming to raise the percentage from 18% to 40%. Dr. Oyeyemi Ayoola, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor, Office of Internal Audit, announced this initiative during the opening of a five-day training on Revenue Systems Audit of non-tax IGR.

The training, a collaboration between the Office of Internal Audit and the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business in Alberta, Canada, focuses on imparting cutting-edge auditing technologies. The objective is to enhance officers’ skills in auditing and fortifying measures against leakages in non-tax IGR.

Dr. Ayoola emphasized the importance of revenue in executing projects outlined in the state’s THEMEs plus Agenda. The upward review of non-taxable IGR is deemed crucial for the state to achieve its developmental goals.

Abdulkabir Ogungbo, the Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, highlighted the training’s purpose of expanding the non-tax IGR base and promoting compliance with internal systems. This, in turn, would contribute to the state’s targeted expenditure.

Kikelomo Dawodu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Internal Audit, expressed the motivation to address leakages and ensure sufficient funds for running Lagos efficiently. The overarching goal is to deliver improved services to the residents of Lagos.