The General Manager of Kwara State Agency for Signage and Advertisement (KWASAA), Alhaji Hamad Olufadi has said that the agency has generated over N40 million within 9months.
The amount, according to him, was generated between January and September, 2017.
Speaking to Pilot Business in an interview in his office on Thursday, Olufadi said “With the resources available to the agency we have been able to generate over N40 million as at September this year for the state.
“The level of payment compliance is about 50 per cent as some clients willingly pay for their signage, ” he added.
He, however, said as from 2018, the agency will collaborate with Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) for the collection of revenue.
Olufadi, who said the agency has over 20,000 clients across the state, added that notices of payment are given at the beginning of each year i.e. between January and March.
“I must also say that the Governor in his magnimity instructed that since we have the whole year to run our budget and since his government is not increasing the number of taxes, he would prefer that people pay at their convenience. That we should do what we can to create a voluntary compliance.
“In consonance with that directive, we put human face to enforcing compliance but we discovered that the year is running out fast and after sending necessary reminders to these clients, we have no option than ensuring enforcement.
He stressed that locking up of shops is the last resort by KWASAA in ensuring compliance by clients.
He said, ” We locked up MTN company and Star times in the past but such organisations have learnt that it is in everybody’s interest to pay on time.
“As it is now, we haven’t lock up any business outfit this year but for people who have signposts, if we give you reminder notice and they fail to comply, we will remove the signposts and fine them.”
Olufadi urged the public to always consult the agency before erecting any signpost and billboards in some sensitive places within the metropolis as the agency has the authority to remove such without the owners’ notice.
He added that KWASAA has good working relationship with the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) in ensuring that the messages on various signposts and billboards in the state are not inciting.
