The chairman, Lagos State Inland Revenue Service, Mr. Babatunde Fowler, has said the provision of amenities and development will be impossible if all taxable adults do not pay their tax.
He said this during the Children's Day celebration when the LIRS took 50 pupils from different secondary schools in the state to some government establishments.
Fowler stated that LIRS did this to let the pupils know how the tax being paid by their parents were being used by the state government.
The pupils were taken to mini water works, Iponri; Traffic Radio, Agidingbi, Ikeja; Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Centre, Surulere and Samsung Academy at the Government Technical College, Agidingbi, Lagos.
He said, "We decided to do this every year, to let the pupils know that payment of tax and development go hand-in-hand. There is the need to let them know how the tax paid by their parents were being utilised. Basically, it is to let them know the importance of payment of tax."
Fowler stated that no matter how lofty the programmes of the state government could be, if there was no money to actualise them, "it is as good as nothing."
He said if the pupils had this knowledge in their mind, and being leaders of tomorrow, they would not resist payment of tax when it was time for them to pay tax.
The schools which participated in the tour were Lagos African Church Grammar School, Ifako, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Apapa Senior High School, Apapa, Ashafa Tijani Memorial High School, Iponri and Gbagada Girls Senior Secondary School, Gbagada, Lagos.
The production manager, mini waterworks in Iponri, Mr. Kamar Balogun, said one million gallons of water were generated there and distributed daily to residents of Ebute Meta, Iponri and its environs. At the Samsung Academy, the Vice-Principal, administration, Mrs. Adebisi Akanni, stated that the academy "is where the students come for practical knowledge."
The tour was preceded by essay competition and the winners were honoured at the Teslim Balogun Stadium where Fowler addressed them and commended them for their efforts.
