Kwara State Revenue Service Responds to Discriminatory Tax Policy Allegations

 The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has refuted claims of discriminatory tax practices made by Igbo traders in Ilorin, following a report published by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) on July 31, 2024.

According to Funmilola Oguntobi, the Head of Corporate Affairs for KWIRS, the agency has been accused of bias by members of the Kwara State Igbo Traders Association (KWAITA), who have also initiated legal action against KWIRS. The legal suit, filed on July 12, 2024, is currently pending in the Kwara State High Court.

In a statement released on August 3, KWIRS strongly denied the allegations, asserting that the report published by ICIR was a deliberate attempt to distort the facts. The statement clarifies that there is no basis for claims suggesting that the Kwara State Governor or KWIRS has engaged in discriminatory practices against traders based on ethnicity or religion.

KWIRS emphasized that their actions were solely in line with legal judgments affecting various businesses. The agency pointed out that among the businesses targeted by the judgments were both Igbo and Yoruba traders, including:

• Igbo Traders:

  • An electrical appliances store located at No. 154 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin.
  • A boutique dealer at No. 12 Taiwo Isale Ilorin, opposite Gada Market.
  • An automobile spare parts dealer at Ibrahim Taiwo Road, adjacent Lapariah Tech.

• Yoruba Traders:

  • A phone accessories dealer at No. 60 Ibrahim Taiwo Road, opposite Methodist Church.
  • A trader at No. 147, beside GTB Plc, Ibrahim Taiwo Road.
  • A business providing educational services at No. 278 Upper Taiwo Road, beside Mama From Store.

The agency also highlighted its adherence to a non-discriminatory policy on personal income tax assessment and collection, compliant with the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended). KWIRS stressed that the publication by ICIR, which they described as “wicked claims,” was aimed at undermining their reputation and disrupting the judicial process.

KWIRS urged ICIR and other parties involved to avoid publicizing matters that are currently under judicial review, and called for a focus on the judicial process rather than public opinion. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and adherence to legal and ethical standards in its operations.

As tensions rise, KWIRS continues to emphasize its role as a lawful and fair institution, dedicated to the equitable enforcement of tax regulations across all communities in Kwara State.