In a bid to further broaden the scope of students on the important role that tax payment plays in development of infrastructure, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), as part of activities to mark the Children’s Day celebration, organised an education tour for 50 students from five different schools in Lagos.
The tour which saw the students visit establishments like Lagos Traffic Radio, Samsung Engineering Academy, Lagos Water board among other places, was put together to enlighten the students and show them firsthand where the Lagos State government is channeling the tax that citizens pay.
Tunde Fowler, chief executive officer and executive chairman of Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue while speaking at the event said the tour was necessary for the students because it will afford them the opportunity to see actual government projects that have being completed and those in progress so that they can see what government revenue is used for.
Fowler revealed that among the students that participated in the tour were students who emerged winners in a recently organised LIRS tax essay competition and some colleagues from their schools. On the importance of the tour, Fowler maintained that it was done so the students will see and know the importance of people paying tax to fund government, noting that without revenue, government regardless of its vision cannot carry out projects.
“Students need to know the role of government and how government is funded and to see the results of those funds,” he said.
Olalekan Ibrahim, a student of Federal Government College, Ijaniki-Lagos and one of the winners in the essay competition said that what he has seen the Lagos State Government do with tax payers’ money is a true representation of what governance should be.
Ibrahim maintained that if all governors and president can follow this path he is certain the country will be better for it. He promised to spread the campaign on the need for Lagosians and indeed Nigerians to pay tax to aid even development of needed infrastructure.
