Osun State Government on Thursday presented letters of employment to over 100 unemployed youths recruited into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to upsurge the Internally Generated Revenue of the state.
The newly recruited youths were said to have been selected across the 30 local governments including the Area office, Modakeke, as the full-fledged staff to assist the state in its revenue generation.
Addressing the beneficiaries at a three-day training workshop organized by the Board, the Director of Finance and Strategy, Osun Board Internal Revenue Service, Mr Oluyemi Oni, said that the essence of the training was to give the newly employed tax marshals requisite knowledge and to instill in them the basic principles that will aid them to diligently discharge their duties.
Oni said that out of over 400 revenue marshals who were recruited on contract basis about one year ago, 100 of them were absorbed due to their excellent performance while on probation.
Giving insights into the recruitment criteria, Oni said NCE, OND, HND, B.SCS and Masters Degree holders were considered by the board to be fixed into levels 6, 7 and 8 respectively.
According to him, having absorbed 100 trainees into the board, efforts were being made to finally absorb them into civil service just as a fresh batch would be absorbed.
“As part of efforts to improve on the state IGR, the board had to secure the approval of the government to absorb 100 officers into the board as staffs so as to assist the state in its quest to improve on its revenue generation,” he said.
Oni implored the beneficiaries to see the appointment as a call to service by living up to their responsibilities in making the state to realize its objectives on robust revenue generation.
Earlier, Chairman of the Osun Board Internal Revenue Service, Mr Dayo Oyebamiji, commended the state government for empowering the youth through jobs creation.
Oyebamiji said Osun has always been ahead of its peers in wealth creation and employment generation as the developmental policies of the state had impacted positively in the lives of the citizenry.
He called on the newly recruited tax officers to live up to state’s expectations by championing the laid down tax principles and guidelines aimed at improving the status of the state IGR.
The Head of Training, Osun Board Internal Revenue Service, Mr Lawrence Oladapo, called on the trainees to distinguish themselves by making the board proud as revenue collectors.
Oladapo, who sued for transparency and honesty, called on the beneficiaries to be diligent to duties as being dictated by the concept of taxation.
One of the youths recruited to join the OIRS, Bimbola Ajayi told Channels Television that the move by the state government is a commendable one
“Many of us who are fortunate to be among those recruited have been without jobs for so long. So, we will ensure that we do our best, knowing filly well that we are helping to generate funds for the state government.
“We are beneficiaries of all the government is providing for the people of Osun state and tax payment is the civic duty of a responsible citizen. We will not disappoint the government,” he said.
