KGIRS Staff Celebrate 10 years Anniversary, Maiden Customer Service Week

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The usually busy reception of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) on Thursday, wore a completely different look as members of staff temporarily put aside the routine of revenue administration to celebrate ten years anniversary of the establishment of the agency as well as their maiden Customer Service Week in a colourful display of culture, music and dance.

Under the watchful eye of the management, staff of the Service trooped out in their numbers, turning the occasion into a lively cultural carnival that showcased the rich and diverse heritage of Kogi State.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement as staff members, dressed in colourful traditional attires, took turns to display their cultural identities through energetic dances, melodious songs and other forms of traditional entertainment.

The reception centre reverberated with the rhythm of cultural music as participants danced enthusiastically, drawing applause and cheers from their colleagues and creating a festive atmosphere rarely associated with the official environment.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the electrifying event, the Director of Income Tax, Mr. Emmanuel Yusufu, who stood in for the Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Dr. Salihu Sule Enehe, described the week-long event as an avenue for KGIRS to appreciate taxpayers, customers and workers who collaborate with the Service to effectively move Kogi State forward.

Commenting on the achievements of KGIRS, Enehe disclosed that when the Service started 10 years ago, the state’s internally generated revenue stood at about N600 million annually, adding that the figure had risen significantly to N43.9 billion as of 2025.

” When we started 10 years ago, the revenue of the state was N600 million annually, but as we speak, as of 2025, we are already on N43.9 billion,” he said.

On the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of the Service, the Executive Chairman revealed that KGIRS had been reaching out to Kogites in its “little way” through various interventions, particularly during periods of flooding.

He noted that victims of such disasters were also taxpayers, stressing that the Service considered it necessary to support them in times of need.

Enehe also disclosed that KGIRS had been contributing to educational development in the state through the distribution of notebooks and exercise books to schools, among other interventions.

Responding to an appeal by a taxpayer who pleaded with KGIRS to “temper justice with mercy” in matters concerning tax payments, Enehe said that while tax collection is guided by law, the Service also approached its responsibilities with “a human face.”

“It is not only about the law; we also look at the economic reality on the ground and the ability of the taxpayer to pay. “Though tax must be transparent and we must be firm,” he said.

Enehe urged staff of the Service to rededicate themselves to their duties and work collectively towards helping KGIRS realise its full potential.

“Let’s build KGIRS and Kogi State together,” he charged.

He further disclosed that the Service had been motivating its workforce by supporting staff pursuing professional courses, including payment for examinations, as well as sponsoring them to attend conferences and other programmes aimed at enhancing their professional development.

The event also featured cutting of cake, a raffle draw, during which selected staff members went home with various gifts, while six well-dressed staff members were appreciated with N10,000 each.

Also speaking one of the KGIRS staff members who received an award, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad Shuaibu, thanked the management for recognising and appreciating the workforce of the Service.

He said the gesture would serve as an additional motivation for staff to put in greater efforts towards achieving improved productivity and delivering more effectively on their official responsibilities to the state.
Ends.