Janet Samuel, Abuja
Kogi State commissioner of Finance and Budget Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris on Monday attended the launch of Public Finance Database by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
Asiwaju Asiru said the purpose of the launching will help to review the financial activities of states and exchanging ideas on the best way forward in some issues.
He said the essence of the launched database is to gather information about the 36 States of the federation to complement each other’s activities, adding that such information about states budget, taxes, financial statement and other financial laws among others, which he said is a good development.
The Commissioner explained that with the data base, it will help to plan better ahead to better the country, adding that the data properly protected i will block leakages with the presence of multilevel supervision that will in turn minimize corruption.
He noted that the benefit of the program which goes along with interaction will help them in improving the financial activities of Kogi State.
Speaking on the autonomy of the tax authority, he said is to allow the internal revenue service of states as it’s been practiced in kogi state to single handedly handled the collection and accessing of tax without interference from any other authority.
He explained that the collection and accessing of tax should be the sole responsibility of the internal revenue agencies of the States.