Date: 2018-03-28

Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital have been urged to make voluntary declaration of their assets and property in the ongoing nationwide campaign.

The call came barely six days to the expiration of the deadline for the declaration after which a task force would be deployed to enforce compliance nationwide.

The Federal Government had initiated Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDs) to encourage Nigerians to willingly declare their assets to avoid being hunted around.

Community Tax Liaison Officers (CTLOs) at the instance of Federal Ministry of Finance embarked on a Roadshow in some parts of Ilorin at the weekend to sensitise members of the public on the need to declare assets within time frame.

Speaking during the roadshow, the Director, Administration and Operation, KWIRS, Mrs Adenike Omolara Babajamu, appealed to residents of the state to avail themselves the window of opportunity provided to declare their asset and property.

She warned that failure to do so would compel the government to roll out punitive measures against defaulters.

Mrs Babajamu informed that the government had devised strategy to identify hidden assets and property and it was high time for those owning them to declare them publicly.

Describing payment of taxes as essential, the KWIRS Director stated that Nigeria can only thrive on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and admonished residents of the state not to shy away from their responsibility.

"The window opened by the Federal Government for voluntary assets declaration is about to close. In about two weeks, the window will be closed. So, we decided it is better for us to sensitise the public and intensify the advocacy in getting the people to know that they should take advantage of it.

"It is better to declare your assets now, because if you don't and you are discovered, you will have to pay penalty, you will have to pay interest and of course you would be troubled because the enforcement would pursue you.

"Our nation is growing now and we are getting to a point where you can no longer hide what you have. Because you will encounter problem, for instance, with your tenant one day, you will go court and these are properties you owned and never declared. By the time they go to court, they can take ownership of your own property, because there is no evidence that you have it in the first place.

"Then, it is an advantage for us also because it will allow you to pay what is due to you now, interest will be waved and at the same time, you can put your things together and at the long run, it is a better for the nation. We all know that this country can only thrive on IGR, and the more we are able to grow our revenue from properties and all other IGR heads, the better for us as a nation", Mrs Babajamu said.

The Tax Controller, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ilorin, Alhaji Aliyu Mahe, who also spoke, identified VAIDS as a federal government programme targeted at enhancing revenue generation. He disclosed that an amnesty window has been opened for many citizens who are yet to declare their assets to do so to ward off likely penalty.

He cautioned that failure to comply with the ongoing VAIDS campaign would attract prosecution upon expiration of the deadline.