By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
Kwara state internal revenue service (KWIRS) yesterday revealed that political pressures in the state had prevented it from realising its set target of N30 billion annually.
The agency particularly recalled that the just concluded local government election held in the state forced the agency to relax on its revenue generation drive.
Executive chairman of the KWIRS, Dr. Murtala Awodun, made the revelation at a media briefing on activities of the state government agency in Ilorin yesterday.
Besides the recent local government elections in the state, the KWIRS boss also linked Treasury Single Account (TSA), identification and remuneration of taxable adults and corporate entities.
Awodun said the election, which was postponed on three occasions, affected operations and fortune of the agency.
He said the agency had to relax its operations during the election period to discourage possible allegations of blackmail against the government establishment.
He, however, said the record of performance for 2017 had showed that the N30 billion annual target was realisable.
Awodun, who said the agency realised a sum of N18.2 billion as opposed to a total of N17.2 billion in 2016, added: “Our target is to hit N24 billion. However, we are hoping to hit N20 billion at the end of 2017. There’s nothing stopping the state from hitting N30 billion annually.”
NAF re-organises air component of operations in North-east
By Musa Umar Bologi
Abuja
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has reorganised its air combat structure in the Northeast.
NAF spokesperson, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, said in a statement on Monday that the re-organisation was to ensure operational efficiency.
He said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, disclosed this during his opening remarks at the CAS Fourth Quarter Conference in Abuja.
He said: “According to the CAS, the Air Component Commander has been replaced with a Commander Air Task Force (CATF), an Air Vice Marshal (a two-star General), who reports to the overall Theatre Commander.
“The new CATF is Air Vice Marshal Idi Lubo, who was serving as the Air Component Commander. The NAF has also appointed three Divisional Air Liaison Officers (DALO) for the 3 Armoured Division as well as 7 and 8 Divisions of the Nigerian Army in the North-east.
“The whole idea is to ensure a better coordination of air efforts with ground operations. Besides, the NAF has appointed an Air Liaison Officer for the Theatre Command to further limit the possibility of gaps in operations.”
