The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Folashade Omoniyi, on Thursday led members of the management team of the service on a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Director of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ACE I Victoria Ugo, at the commission's office in GRA, Ilorin.

Speaking during the visit, Omoniyi said the delegation was at the EFCC to formally welcome the new zonal director and further strengthen the cordial working relationship between both agencies.

According to her, it has always been a tradition for the service to pay such visits whenever a new head assumes office, noting that the gesture helps to "put a face to the name" and deepen institutional cooperation.

Omoniyi recalled that she was first appointed Executive Chairman of KW-IRS in October 2019 by AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara State, and was reappointed in October 2023 after successfully completing her first tenure.

She noted that the service had enjoyed a productive and mutually beneficial relationship with the EFCC over the years, particularly in promoting accountability and improving revenue generation within the state.

The KW-IRS boss also spoke on the recently enacted tax reform signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, highlighting some of its key provisions aimed at strengthening tax administration and enhancing compliance across the country.

She said, "The reform is designed to simplify Nigeria's tax system, reduce the burden on low-income earners and small businesses, while boosting government revenue through improved compliance."

She, however, lamented the persistent challenge of tax evasion, stressing the need for sustained public sensitisation on the new tax laws to ensure that citizens understand their civic responsibilities, and sought continued collaboration with the EFCC, particularly in the area of enforcement and intelligence sharing.

According to her, stronger synergy between the revenue agency and the anti-graft commission would help curb tax evasion and other financial infractions, ultimately boosting internally generated revenue and supporting development efforts in Kwara State.

She also congratulated Ugo on her appointment as the new Ilorin Zonal Director of the EFCC, expressing confidence that her leadership would further strengthen the fight against economic and financial crimes in the zone.

In her response, Ugo appreciated the KW-IRS delegation for the visit and the show of goodwill, noting that the anti-corruption drive under the leadership of the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, places strong emphasis on tax compliance as a critical component of financial integrity and national development.

She added that the visit went beyond mere familiarisation, describing it as a valuable opportunity for both institutions to interact, share ideas and deepen collaboration for more effective results in combating financial crimes and promoting accountability in the state.