With the establishment of a single automated platform for the collection of all taxes and levies owed to the state government, Lagos State has used the most cutting-edge method in its revenue collection and administration system.
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The Lagos Revenue Portal (LRP), a user-friendly digital platform created for the simple and effective administration of the State’s internally generated revenue (IGR), was unveiled by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday.
For ease of administration, accountability, and distribution, the portal—which replaced the Electronic Banking System of income Cycle Management (EBS-RCM)—has now standardised and combined numerous income streams into a single revenue stream. The accomplishment represented a significant turning point in the State’s trajectory towards digitising its tax collection process, which was started in 2001 by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu government.
Utilising technology, the payer-centric site made revenue stakeholders’ lives easier and allowed for smooth operations. To enable levy payment without requiring a physical visit to the office, each Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) that generates revenue has a unique code generated on the portal. Sanwo-Olu called the development a “game-changer,” emphasising that the advancement was evidence of his administration’s dedication to innovation, openness, and initiatives to make doing business in Lagos easier.
According to him, the State’s digitalisation of its revenue collecting system has increased its competitiveness in the community of smart cities. The streamlined procedure has eliminated obstacles that impeded the capacity and efficiency of MDAs that generate money. “This is just another significant turning point in our joint endeavour and audacious steps towards making Lagos the most business-friendly state in the nation,” he declared.
It is impossible to overstate the significance of effective revenue collection. It is essential to development and government. We can finance vital services, fund necessary infrastructure, and raise everyone’s standard of living in Lagos with its help.
The Lagos Revenue Portal is a game-changing tool that simplifies the payer enumeration process and makes it simpler for people and businesses to comply with their tax duties. It is more than just a platform. We have eliminated obstacles to compliance by streamlining this process, which will increase the State’s income base. We are encouraging a culture of accountability and openness in revenue collecting by moving to this digital platform.
This portal is in line with our overarching goal of transforming Lagos into a smart city—a place where advancement is propelled by innovation and technology. Through the digitisation of our tax collection process, we are improving the Ease of Doing Business and setting Lagos as an example for other Nigerian states and abroad. We are establishing a benchmark for governance that uses technology to provide the public with effective and transparent services. In order to prevent income leakage and improve transparency, Sanwo-Olu urged the general public that pays taxes and other players in the revenue arena to accept the innovation.
The Governor stated that the portal’s acceptance by the payers it was intended to assist will determine its success. In order to facilitate their interactions with the government and support the expansion and advancement of the State, he urged the public to take advantage of this effort. “With the help of this platform, we are getting closer to realising our goal of creating a Greater Lagos where everyone can participate in progress and innovation meets governance,” stated Sanwo-Olu. Mr. Abdul-Kabir Ogungbo, Special Advisor to the Governor on Taxation and income, stated that LRP was an essential part of the Lagos Strategic Revenue Framework and that the operational portion of the site had completely integrated the information and procedures of MDAs that generate income.
According to Ogungbo, the portal has also accomplished sector-based harmonisation, enabling companies to pay MDAs in the same sector with a single, centralised payment. “The site offers real-time channel for queries, complaint and support services, and artificial intelligence-powered revenue enquiry services.
Additionally, we have brought income management for State and Local Governments into harmony,” he declared. According to Mr. Ayodele Subair, Chairman of Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), the new platform would strengthen public confidence in government while enhancing operational capacities. He said that the change will increase compliance and fortify the State’s income foundation.
According to Mr. Akinsanya Doherty, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Beta Consulting, the portal will streamline revenue collection while also equipping individuals with the necessary knowledge to support the development of the State.
“This is a testament to what we can achieve when we harness the power of technology to improve transparency and efficiency,” Doherty said.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
15 AUGUST 2024
