Chairman of the OGIRS, Mr. Babajide Odubanjo
Sheriff Balogun
Ogun State Government has declared war on the producers of fake tax clearance certificates and other related documents, with a clampdown on racketeers who have been swindling applicants.
The state government disclosed that fake Electronic Tax Clearance Certificates (E-TCC), tax receipts and stamp duty have been detected by men of the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) who are relentlessly pursuing the exercise and mapping out ways of wiping out the menace.
In this regard, government has introduced security features which would allow easy identification of genuine tax clearance certificates with simple mobile Short Message Service (SMS), just as it has unveiled posters which would now be prominently displayed in all government offices.
To strengthen the effort, a helpline has also been established under the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue and Taxation to enable members of the public share information about suspected related fraudulent activities confidentially.
Speaking at the kick-off of an awareness campaign on fake tax clearance certificates in Abeokuta, Chairman of the OGIRS, Mr. Babajide Odubanjo, said those who cut corners and patronise touts were placing themselves at risk as possession of a fake tax clearance certificate is a criminal offence.
He cited instances where those who have presented fake tax clearance certificates were arrested.
While showing determination to curb multiple taxation and harmonise the revenue generated by the numerous government agencies into a unified unit, the OGIRS has introduced an encrypted consolidated emblem.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Adekunle Akinlade, who spoke in Abeokuta, said the emblem has security marks which can only be seen under an ultra-violet light for authenticity.
Speaking on the advantages of the emblem, Akinlade maintained that it would help eradicate multiple taxation, curb tax leakages, promote uniformity in revenue ticketing, restore the confidence of tax payers and aid accountability in the state’s revenue generation drive.
According to him, the emblem covers levies payable on Board of Internal Revenue permits, Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) Waste basket Permit, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Vehicle Commodity Permit, Heavy/Light duty Agricultural Products Permit, Bureau of Transportation (BOT) Route Permit/Interstate/Road Tax Warrant Permit among others.
He stated that the OGIRS would not relent in its drive to enhance revenue generation of the State, disclosing that a door-to-door sensitisation and registration campaign had also been embarked upon to capture all taxpayers into the tax net of the state.
Expressing optimism about these steps, the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, explained that they would help to shore up the Internally Generated Revenue accruing to the purse of the government.
She added that the state government would find it easy in the coming year to deliver more of its campaign promises and provide more infrastructural facilities for the benefit of the populace.