The Lagos tax reform which has benefitted Lagosians and as well boosted the moral of pupils in Lagos with award of scholarships and cash prizes through its essay competitions, has again kicked off its 5th edition of the essay competition, as secondary school pupils submit entries organised by the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).

Speaking recently at a briefing in Lagos, Executive Chairman of the LIRS, Mr Tunde Fowler, said aside rewarding the best essayists, the agency tends to educate them about the importance of taxes to societal development with the expectations that they will not only become tax complaint when they become adults but convey the message to their parents now.

He hopes that the research the pupils would carry out in the course of sourcing materials for the essay competition will help improved them academically while they would become change agents on tax education to the society.

According to Fowler, taxation makes it possible for any government to meet its obligation to the people when there is compliance.

“Tax compliance will promote academic excellence. Anytime a child is asked to write, he undergoes research and anytime he does that, he improves academically. The whole idea is to catch them young; let them understand the intricacies of tax compliance.

“In addition, he said, Lagos generates an average of N17.5 billion from tax monthly. It is close to three times what we get from the Federal Government. If more people pay, the state will get up to N20 billion,” he said.

Junior secondary pupils participating in the competition are expected to write on: “Payment of tax is your duty, your civic responsibility and the Law” or “Well equipped schools, recreational centres, good hospitals, good roads, efficient transportation etc. Tax payment makes them possible.”

Senior secondary pupils are to write on: “Lagos State will continue to be a centre of excellence if all taxable adults pay their taxes promptly and correctly” or “Tax payments fund infrastructural development in Lagos.