Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has sacked the entire staff of the Kogi state internal Revenue service, (KIRS) and also all members of local government service commission for misappropriation of funds.
It learnt that the sack was as a result of the fact that the service was on not able to meet the deadline of amount required from them since the beginning of the year.
Source said that the inability of the revenue agency to meet the required N1 billion monthly generated revenue was responsible for the disbannent of the agency.
It was revealed that the state government was not comfortable with its inability to embark on any meaningful projects since January 2020 due to poor internally revenue generation from the agency.
However,a statement issued late last night by the state commissioner for information and communication, Kingsley Fanwo confirmed the development adding that the Finance Commissioner , Ashiwaju Idris Ashiru have been appointed to head Interim Management Committe.
“The Kogi State Governor has suspended the Management of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service with immediate effect and appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the daily activities of the Service.”
Fanwo who was responding to inquiry from our correspondent said the suspension was predicated on “violation of corporate governance in the service”, saying the State Government had to act to save the Service from further violations.
“Yes, the Management has been suspended”, he said, explaining that the decision came as a result the 2019 Audited Financial Report of the Service.
“The Governor is conscious of things that have to do with excellent corporate governance, transparency and accountability.
“The 2019 Audited Financial Report of the service shows that their were infractions and the Governor had to take a decision to ensure the Service is repositioned.
“In the place of the Management, the Governor has appointed an Interim Management Committee to oversee the daily affairs of the Service.
“The newly appointed Interim Management Committee is to be chaired by the Hon. Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris. Other members of the Committee are the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Mohammed, SAN, the Auditor General of the State, Alh. Yakubu Okala and the Auditor General Local Government, Alh. Usman Ododo while the Accountant General of the State, Alh. Momoh Jibrin is to serve as the Secretary”.
When contacted, the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru confirmed that they have met with members of the suspended Management Committee and told them to hand over to the most senior staff in their respective departments while the suspended Chairman has also handed over.
Similarly the state governor has sacked all members of kogi state local government service commission for misappropriation of funds.
According to source, they were sacked for allegedly mismanaging funds running into several millions of naira which was meant for training but allegedly used the money in purchasing vehicles for members without the directive from the governor.
