The Kano State Internal Revenue Service, KIRS, has sacked 308 part-time workers in the state.
Briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Kano, the KIRS Chairman, Bala Inuwa, said the decision became necessary due to the shortfall in Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
According to him, the COVID-19 lockdown had caused businesses to shut down in the state, hence the disposal of these staff.
He, however, disclosed that the disengagement is temporary as the agency might recall the affected staff in the future if the revenue generation improves.
“These temporary staff were employed to go to every nook and crannies to collect tax from business operators.
“However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, it is apparent that businesses have been shut down, as such, these staff had been rendered idle.
“Furthermore, our revenue has fallen drastically. We can no longer pay their salary, that is why we decided to temporarily disengage then until the situation is improved,” Mr Inuwa stated.
The chairman disclosed that the agency had lost over 70% of its monthly IGR, adding that the body is now generating N500 to N700 million as against the N2 billion it used to generate on a monthly basis before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Inuwa added that the agency would also hand back drivers and cleaners to a consultancy company and be engaging them from time to time as the need arises.
He explained that the offices and vehicles of the agency had not been functional due to coronavirus lockdown, saying “that is why the Service decided to leave them in the hand of a consultancy firm as we cannot continue paying them salary with the limited resources at our disposal”.
