When searching for a loyal, supportive, dedicated, committed, innovative, and resourceful political appointee in the Governor Yahaya Bello led administration, the man Yakubu Oseni is one man that fits the bill. He is one man that wore loyalty to Governor Yahaya Bello like a badge of honor. He’s leaving a huge legacy behind in Kogi State revenue services. His achievements as Executive Chairman are as follows:
- Awakening the tax culture of the citizen’s through enlightenment campaign in Local dialects, Pidgin and English Language in both electronic and print media with the creation of massive awareness campaign in the state.
- Built an edifice adjudged one of the best Revenue House in the country.
- Automate tax collections and reporting system to block revenue leakages.
- Triple revenue collections as at the end of December 2016.
- Introduction of Tax Audit Monitoring Agent (TAMA) which hitherto is none existent in the defunct Board of Internal Revenue.
- Restructuring of the KGIRS Management structure by creating the following departments which were previously nonexistent: Legal department, ICT department, Administration/Corporate Services Department, and Internal Audit Department.
- Recruitment of professionals and young graduates numbering over 500 into State Internal Revenue Services.
- Establishment and expansion of Motor Licensing centres in Kabba and Okene for the seamless administration of Road Taxes.
- Renovation and repositioning of Area Tax Offices across the state for effective tax administration.
- Organizing the Maiden edition of Revenue-Generating Agencies Summit.
- Drafting and submission of the following Bill to the office of the Executive Governor for onward presentation to the State Executive Council and the State House of Assembly: Land Use Charge Law, Infrastructure Regulation Agency.
- Activating and flagging off House numbering and Street naming across all Local Government in the state with the intention to enhance the security of the state and quick response to emergency situations.
Last word, with few days to the primary, Alhaji Oseni is mentally and psychologically prepared to slug it out with other aspirants believing in God to give him victory in the battle ahead. Clearly, God is involved in his ambition to represent the good people of Kogi Central as Senator.
– Otori Ozigi is a retired public servant, journalist/PR consultant.
