Lagos State Launches Whistle-Blower Platform To Uncover Tax Evaders, Corrupt LIRS Staff

The Executive Chairman of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Ayodele Subair, said the tax administrator has launched a Whistle-Blower program to uncover tax evaders.

LIRS partnered with Delloite Nigeria, to utilise the Anonymous and the Confidential Whistle-Blowing facility of the accounting and audit company. It was gathered that the tax agency will also use the platform as a channel to oust erring employees of LIRS.

According to Subair, the Delloite Anonymous and the Confidential Whistle-Blowing platform will facilitate the report of illegal actions or financial crimes, as well as grow the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.

“The facility is designed to ensure that concerns about wrongdoings or malpractice observed in the LIRS administrative and operational activities can be raised by any stakeholder without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination, disadvantage or dismissal.

“This facility does not only provide the avenue to report but ensures the credibility of reports through investigation, feedback to the whistle-blower and ensures protection for such whistle-blower from possible reprisals or victimisation for all disclosures made in good faith.” Subair said.

According to the LIRS boss, “The whistle-blowing initiative is a two-way affair; even though it is aimed at exposing the LIRS staff involved with misconduct, employees of entities who want to report employers who circumvent tax laws or even members of the public who wants to raise the alarm on persons or entities who willfully commit financial crimes leading to revenue loss for the state can make use of the whistle-blowing platform.” he said.