Sanwo-Olu Commends LIRS, Pushes for Autonomy of Tax Agencies at 159th Joint Revenue Board Meeting in Lagos
L–R: Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor; Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, Executive Secretary, Joint Revenue Board (JRB), representing Dr. Zacc Adedeji, Chairman, JRB; and Dr. Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), as the Governor hosted members of the Joint Revenue Board and declared open the 159th JRB Meeting at Lagos House, Marina, on Wednesday.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday commended the performance of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), describing it as a key driver of the state’s economic expansion, while advocating greater operational autonomy for tax agencies across Nigeria to strengthen revenue generation and public service delivery.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has praised the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) for its pivotal role in driving the state’s economic growth, noting that internally generated revenue (IGR) now accounts for over 60 per cent of Lagos’ annual budget.
L-R: Dr Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS; Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, Executive Secretary, Joint Revenue Board (JRB); Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu, Lagos State Governor; Mr. Obafemi Hazmat, Lagos State Deputy Governor; Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, Director-General/CEO, National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Finance as the governor hosted members of the Joint Revenue Board, and declared open the 159th JRB meeting at the Lagos House, Marina on Wednesday
He made the remarks at the State House, Marina, while receiving members of the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) at its 159th meeting, which commenced on Monday, April 20, 2026.
The Joint Revenue Board—formerly the Joint Tax Board—comprises the Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), chairmen of the 36 State Internal Revenue Services, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) revenue authority, and representatives of key federal agencies including the Federal Ministry of Finance, National Identity Management Commission, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that Lagos generated N1.3 trillion in internally generated revenue in 2024, representing a 45 per cent increase over the previous year, attributing the growth to sustained reforms, digital tax systems, expansion of the tax net, and improved taxpayer engagement.
R-L: Dr Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, Executive Secretary, Joint Revenue Board (JRB) and Comptroller Shuaib Audu, representative of the Nigeria Immigration Service during the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board, hosted by the LIRS, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday, April 21, 2026
According to him, “We can say that our internally generated revenues now account for well over 60 per cent of our budget. It has not happened by sheer luck. It is the result of years of investment in digital tax systems, expansion of the tax net, and building trust with taxpayers.”
The governor, however, stressed the need for greater independence for revenue authorities across the country, urging state governors to grant tax agencies operational freedom and fixed tenures to enhance efficiency and strengthen public confidence.
“Governors need to give revenue agencies clear space to work… It should not be a situation where leadership is frequently disrupted. Only then can taxpayers’ confidence and institutional stability be strengthened,” he said.
L-R: Hajiya Rakiya Ahmad Dodo, Executive Chairman, Zamfara State Internal Revenue Service (ZIRS), Mr. Emmanuel Ekene Nnamani, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS), Dr Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS and Aisha Adamu, Executive Chairman, Gombe State Internal Revenue Service (GIRS) during the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board, hosted by the LIRS, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Sanwo-Olu also noted that tax revenues were being channeled into visible development projects across Lagos State, including rail infrastructure, road expansion, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. He highlighted projects such as the Blue and Red Rail Lines, expanded road networks, and new universities, describing them as outcomes of responsible revenue utilisation.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life of residents, saying Lagos remains focused on building a multimodal transport system integrating rail, water, and road networks.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Ayodele Subair, said the Joint Revenue Board had become critical to strengthening Nigeria’s tax administration, especially following the enactment of new tax laws requiring deeper intergovernmental coordination.
He noted that Lagos’ role as host after five years underscored its position as Nigeria’s economic hub, adding that the state remains a model for revenue administration and reform implementation.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the JRB, Olusegun Adesokan, representing the Chairman of the Board, Zacch Adedeji, commended Lagos for its outstanding revenue performance, noting that the state’s annual IGR had grown significantly from less than N94 billion in earlier years to over N1.7 trillion today.
L-R: Folashade Omoniyi, Executive Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Mr. Olusegun Adesokan, Executive Secretary, Joint Revenue Board (JRB), Dr Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LIRS and Sir Okon Okon, Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), during the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board, hosted by the LIRS, held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026
He described the achievement as evidence that strong revenue systems translate directly into developmental outcomes for citizens.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, Okon Okon, appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for hosting the meeting and highlighted participants’ experience during engagements in Lagos, including a ride on the Blue Rail Line from Marina to Mile 2 and a visit to Eko Atlantic City.
The meeting reaffirmed Lagos State’s position as a national benchmark for tax administration and revenue-driven development in Nigeria.
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