IGR: Ogun Trains Tax Officers on Digital Services

By James Sowole

Determined to improve the revenue of the state, the Ogun State Internal Revenue Service (OGIRS) yesterday began the training of its tax officers ahead of digital processing of services.

The training, which took place at the agency’s headquarters in Abeokuta, the state capital, was declared open by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Revenue, Mr. Biodun Adeleye.

According to him, the training was necessary to empower the officers for a seamless operation in all the services engaged in by the OGIRS.

Adeleye stated that the agency would be at advantage when relevant officers are acquainted with a new trend of processing tax related issues.

He, therefore, charged the participants to see the training as an opportunity to improve on their professional skills.

The Special Adviser said: “I want you to contribute and ask questions to clear all grey areas. With this e-services, all operations in the agency will be seamless; our direct assessment, stamp duties and so on will be processed with ease.”

Also speaking, the Consultant on Software Development, Bureau of Information Technology, Mr. Kayode Odunlami, emphasised the significance of establishing a portal for OGIRS services, noting that it would block revenue leakages, increase the state tax net and revenue generation.

Odunlami added that Information Communication Technology (ICT) is an important tool that would enable businesses to thrive in the present digital age.

He expressed optimism that OGIRS would benefit immensely from the e-portal of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and other upcoming initiative that would be launched in the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

The Chairman of OGIRS, Mr. Olugbenga Olaleye, had during the defence of the agency’s budget at the state House of Assembly said all services of the agency would be automated for both taxpayers and tax officers in order to transact their businesses at the comfort of their homes or offices.