Tinubu’s Reforms Behind Lagos Tax Growth, Says LIRS Boss as 159th JRB Meeting Ends

Tinubu’s Reforms Behind Lagos Tax Growth, Says LIRS Boss as 159th JRB Meeting Ends

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.

 

LAGOS, NIGERIA — The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Ayodele Subair, has attributed the sustained growth in Lagos State’s tax administration and internally generated revenue to the far-reaching reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure as governor.

Subair made the remarks at a gala night marking the close of the 159th meeting of the Joint Revenue Board held in Lagos, where tax administrators and key revenue stakeholders from across the country convened for four days to deliberate on strategies to strengthen tax systems, improve compliance, and enhance revenue generation nationwide.

He noted that the decision by Tinubu to grant operational autonomy to LIRS laid a solid foundation for the agency’s transformation, describing the move as a pivotal reform that has since been replicated by several states across Nigeria.

According to him, the autonomy ushered in efficiency, innovation, and continuity in tax administration, with successive administrations building on the framework to sustain growth and expand the state’s revenue base.

Subair further highlighted that Lagos has maintained this trajectory through consistent investments in infrastructure, largely financed through tax revenues. He pointed to ongoing developments in transportation, urban renewal, and social services as evidence of effective resource utilisation.

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

The LIRS boss also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for advancing infrastructure delivery, particularly through the development of a multimodal transport system integrating rail, road, and water transportation. He disclosed plans to introduce electric ferries and expand existing transit networks, including the full rollout of the Red Line rail project within the next year.

Emphasising the link between taxation and development, Subair stated that increased voluntary compliance in Lagos is driven by public confidence, as residents can visibly track how their taxes are deployed in delivering critical projects across the state.

“In Lagos, compliance is rising because taxpayers can see tangible results—from improved transport systems to better public infrastructure,” he said, adding that broader national progress depends on citizens embracing tax payment as a civic responsibility.

The 159th Joint Revenue Board meeting, held from April 20 to April 23, brought together heads of the 36 state internal revenue services, representatives of the Federal Capital Territory, and key federal agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, the National Identity Management Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Federal Road Safety Corps.

As part of the programme, delegates participated in technical sessions and committee meetings, as well as an infrastructure tour showcasing major projects executed by the Lagos State Government. The tour featured a ride on the Lagos Blue Line Rail from Marina to Mile 2 and a visit to the Eko Atlantic City development.