Kogi State’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has inaugurated a six-member task force to overhaul revenue collection, part of a broader push by the state government to raise internally generated revenue and tighten oversight of public funds.
The task force, which draws members from the ministry and the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, was sworn in at a ceremony at the State Secretariat by Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu. It is charged with closing gaps in the revenue collection system and enforcing compliance with business registration rules statewide.
Shuaibu called the ministry a key driver of state revenue and said its partnership with the tax service was essential to the effort. He said the panel’s members were chosen for their track records.
The commissioner said the task force was not meant to target individuals but to fix irregularities, educate business owners and work with stakeholders to rebuild the state’s revenue system. He linked the initiative to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s broader effort to grow internally generated revenue for infrastructure and public services.
Permanent Secretary Musa-Amana Sualihat, in a welcome address, called the launch a further step toward strengthening ministry operations and accountability. She said members were selected for their competence and integrity, and asked ministry staff to share relevant information with the task force. She also credited the commissioner and Governor Ododo for the initiative.
Director of Administration Ejeh Michael outlined the panel’s terms of reference, describing a 16-point mandate that includes identifying revenue leakages, investigating unauthorized collections, and ensuring proper assessment, collection and remittance of government revenue. The task force will also monitor compliance with fees, licenses and permits, and ensure businesses register and renew premises permits.
Additional duties include conducting field inspections, educating business owners on their obligations, and curbing the circulation of fake business registration documents. The task force will coordinate with law enforcement where necessary, keep records of its work, and report periodically to the permanent secretary. It will also oversee revenue collection from designated government sites, including the Muhammad Buhari Civic Centre and the New Nigeria Timber Company Okura Sawmill.
The task force is chaired by Tijani Hassan, with Usman Titi Ayinoko as secretary. Its members are Musa Ozovihe Iliyasu, Ibrahim Usman, Musa Mohammed and Zakari Yusuf Shiru.
Also attending were the governor’s senior special assistants on commerce and entrepreneurship — Shuaib Abdullahi Orijo, Khadijat Obaro-Siyaka and Munirat Ibrahim — who voiced confidence in the panel’s ability to carry out its mandate.
Hassan, speaking on behalf of the task force, thanked ministry leadership for its confidence in the committee and pledged the members’ full commitment to the assignment.
