By Funke Cole
Big money would soon smile on Lagosians, in a manner of speaking, as the state government has officially inaugurated a new strategic agenda for taxation and revenue collection meant to significantly boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Special Adviser to the state Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Abdul-Kabir Ogungbo, who dropped this hint penultimate Saturday during a media parley held in Lagos, said the new strategy is also expected to address the tax compliance and ultimately increase revenue collections. According to Ogungbo, the comprehensive strategic agenda was expected to drive efficiency, compliance, and growth in the state’s revenue sector.
The launch of the Automated Revenue Receipt (ARR) system would further simplify revenue receipt and payment processes for residents and businesses within the state, he stressed.Ogungbo said the governor would be launching an upgraded Lagos Revenue Platform (LRP), platform, on 7 August, which will be offering enumerated features and improved user experience.
He also spoke to the ongoing amnesty program for property owners, offering a special opportunity for them to settle outstanding property taxes. He encouraged residents to take advantage of this programme by making payments through the LRP platform. He mentioned the e-GIS enterprise solutions being deployed by Lagos State, land administration portal, the Land Use Charge payers activation exercise among others
Ogungbo said the launch of the Automated Revenue Receipt (ARR) system would further simplify revenue receipt and payment processes for residents and businesses within the state.The scheme, he added, also aligned with the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, built on four pillars of efficient policy structures, power of technology systems, strategic enforcement, and inclusive advocacy.
He said: “The plan would optimise revenue processes and operations through automation across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state, harmonise sector-based revenue operations and collections to promote seamless compliance by businesses and residents and implement sections of laws focused on driving compliance, such as PITA Section 85”, he said.
The scheme, Ogungbo further stressed, will help in developing and implementing revenue opportunities in the digital economy, property, and informal sectors to capture new market potentials; collaborating with federal agencies to uncover remittances by corporate bodies for PAYE and other state-related taxes and establishing a Lagos State Revenue Court to adjudicate on all revenue cases.
Besides, he said ot will help the state government in achieving 99 per cent centralisation of revenue management through the deployment of the Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP) for non-tax collections and e-TAX for tax collections and support deployment of Lagos State artificial intelligent chatbot system to drive seamless service-delivery for both formal and informal sectors.
He said it will also help the state to collaborate with Local Governments to harmonise revenue collections, and in advancing public enlightenment on compliance standards through various channels, including town hall meetings, seminars, TV appearances, jingles, newspaper publications, social media, and more.
“We are committed to making it easier for our residents and businesses to comply with tax obligations. Our goal is to create a one-stop-shop for all LASG revenue collection needs, and we believe the ARR system will achieve just that”, he further said.
The state government is also launching an ongoing amnesty programme for property owners, offering a special opportunity to settle outstanding property taxes.
“Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this programme by making payments through the LRP platform”, Ogungbo said.