Kwara Records 36% IGR Growth In One Year – Revenue Agency

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Shade Omoniyi, has disclosed that the state recorded a 36 percent growth in internally generated revenue between 2023 and 2024. She said the development placed Kwara in the third position nationally in subnational fiscal performance, according to the BudgIT 2025 State of States Report. Omoniyi […]

The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, Shade Omoniyi, has disclosed that the state recorded a 36 percent growth in internally generated revenue between 2023 and 2024.

She said the development placed Kwara in the third position nationally in subnational fiscal performance, according to the BudgIT 2025 State of States Report.

Omoniyi made this known on Thursday at the grand finale of the 2025 KW-IRS Tax Club Quiz Competition held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub.

She described the achievement as a reflection of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s visionary leadership and prudent management of the state’s finances.

Omoniyi explained that Kwara was also ranked fifth among states with the least dependence on federally distributed revenue, which she said underscored the state’s fiscal discipline and sustainable approach to public finance.

She further announced that the governor had approved the constitution of a stakeholders committee to review and harmonise all taxes, levies, rates and charges in the state.

According to her, the committee will also align Kwara’s tax laws with the newly enacted national tax framework and the proposed Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Bill 2025.

She said the move was part of efforts to build a fair, transparent and efficient tax system that would drive economic growth and strengthen public trust in government.

Omoniyi thanked the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development for its partnership in promoting tax education and civic responsibility among students.

She described the collaboration as crucial to nurturing a tax-conscious generation.

Head Corporate Affairs and Convener of the Tax Club Committee, Mrs Funmilola Oguntunbi, said the quiz competition is part of the agency’s broader effort to promote financial literacy and awareness about taxation among young people.

She described the competition as one of the agency’s proudest initiatives for building civic awareness among youths.

“The competition is not just about winning but about understanding how taxes fund national development. Through this, we are raising informed citizens who can meaningfully contribute to governance,” she said.

She disclosed that the 2025 edition introduced computer-based testing, which improved participation across schools.

Representing the Commissioner for Education, a director from the ministry, Mr Adeshina Salami, lauded the initiative and urged students to imbibe the culture of tax compliance and responsible citizenship.

Traditional rulers and education stakeholders were present at the event, which featured 99 participating schools drawn from across the state.

After rigorous preliminary and semi-final stages, six schools emerged for the grand finale.

The competition was organised under the agency’s 5-Es Community Impact Programmes Enterprise, Energy, Education, Empowerment, and Environment.

Shepherd School, Lafiagi, emerged as the overall winner with 20 points, followed by Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, and St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, which came second and third respectively.

₦2.5 million, ₦1.5 million, and ₦1 million were awarded to the first, second, and third positions respectively, with consolation prizes for other participants.