The Kwara House of Assembly on Thursday summoned the Chairman of Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Dr. Muritala Awodun, for clarification on the status of old version of local government certificate of origin.
The House issued the summon in its resolutions following the adoption of a motion titled “Contradictions arising from issuance of certificate of local government certificate of origin”.
The motion which enjoyed the support of all Members was moved by Abdulrafiu Abdulrahman (APC, Ilorin North West constituency)
The Chief Revenue Collector for the state is expected to first appear before the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Community Development.
Abdulrahman in his submission noted that there has been high rate of abuse of Kwara local government certificate of origin by non-indigenes thereby limiting the chances of Kwarans in accessing great opportunities.
He added that the KWIRS was given the cabinet responsibility to administer the certificate to prospective citizens at a bearable cost and not only to increase revenue but also to checkmate the scam in the issuance of the certificates,
The Legislator described the centralization of the production of uniform certificate for all 16 local governments as a welcome development.
He expressed concerned that the KWIRS seems to give the revenue generating aspect a greater premium than verifying the authenticity of the bearers of the certificates
Abdulrahman condemned the current advocacy on media and tertiary institutions on the need for all Kwarans with the old version of certificate to obtain new ones.
He noted that the revenue collection body seems derailing from the main objectives of issuance and verification of the certificate of origin.
He particularly frowned at the act of KWIRS in writing to the authority of the University of Ilorin requesting them to demand for new state of origin certificate from the new and returning students
While describing the act as a selective justice, Abdulrahman called on the House to wade into the matter.
ROYAL NEWS reports that some of the members who contributed to the debate said the power of issuance and invalidity or otherwise of local government origin was vested on the local government council.
They however expressed that the power arrogated to the KWIRS does not belong to it and called for caution on its activities.
The lawmakers particularly condemned the cancellation of admission of new students of the University of Ilorin as requested by the KWIRS, describing the directive as a command that was not in conformity with the present democratic dispensation.
Reading the resolution of the House, the Deputy Speaker, Mathew Okedare direct the KWIRS to a matter of urgency suspend the announcement/advocacy on media and tertiary institutions
The House also directed the KWIRS to retrieve letter sent to the University of Ilorin and other institutions on presentation of new certificate of origin by new and returning Students.
