Ambode appoints Ogunsanwo new LIRS boss

September 22, 2015 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has appointed Mr. Olufolarin Ogunsanwo as the new Chairman, of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

He succeeds Mr. Babatunde Fowler who was last month appointed Director General of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

Ogunsanwo’s appointment was confirmed by the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, on the request of Ambode  who had earlier approved the appointment of new Directors to the Board of LIRS.

The new directors include Mrs. Akintola Bolaji, Moroof Oludare Tijani, Mrs. Arinola Kola-Daisi, Seyi Alade, Mrs. Afolayan Folashade and Ayodele Adebayo with Jimi Aina serving as Board Secretary.

The new officers are expected to resume work immediately and work towards implementing the vision of the state government.

Ogunsanwo has a bachelor degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU) and a Master Degree in Public Administration and Economics from Lagos State University.

Addressing the lawmakers during plenary, Ogunsanwo  told the legislators that there are opportunities for revenue generation in the state and that about 65% of the tax payers in the state are expected from the informal sector.

Ogunsanwo, who was a Regional Co-Ordinator in LIRS before his new appointment, promised to invest in Information Technology, staff motivation, e-filing of taxes, integrate motor vehicle administration, Lands Bureau charges, and land use charges amongst others.

“I have worked in LIRS for 24 years and I have traversed all the departments. I am the best man for the job and we will work as a team to develop a first class revenue generation agency.

“We will review tax dispute resolution process because the current one is cumbersome. We will use independent tax adjudicators because people go to tax appeal tribunal to evade taxes and consider tax amnesty and move forward with tax collection in the state,” he said.

The new tax boss promised to have a strong, and efficient management of LIRS to build a motivated, skilled and competent workforce, adding that there would be zero tolerance for corruption, but that people would be highly motivated, which he said would put an end to high turnover of staff.

He however, informed the assembly that there is a collaboration between the FIRS and LIRS and that they do joint monitoring and enlightenment together. He said that FIRS promised to provide LIRS with the data of the 450,000 companies in its database.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa however, advised Ogunsanwo to address the complaint of  staff of LIRS, whom he said complained that they are rarely promoted by the organisation.