The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr Michael Ango has called for a more robust partnership between the the Service and Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to enhance tax compliance in the FCT.
In a statement signed by the service Head of Corporate communications, Mr Mustapha Sumaila and made available to journalists, Mr Ango made the call when he paid a Courtesy visit to the Chief Executive Officer of the NFIU, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar in her office in Abuja Nigeria.
He explained that NFIU is one of the strategic stakeholders of the Service hence the need for the visit in order to strengthen the existing collaboration for the mutual benefits of the two organisations.
He said the visit was part of engagements with the key stakeholders of the FCT-IRS of which NFIU is one, to solicit for support and cooperation with a view to enhance revenue collection and administration in the FCT.
The Acting Chairman stated that he is aware of the existing partnership between the two organisations but he is looking forward to a closer and stronger working relationship between them for the progress of the FCT and the country in general.
The FCT-IRS boss noted that coming together to share ideas, data and information between the two organisations would help in no small measure to facilitate and improve their operations.
In her remarks, the NFIU Chief Executive Officer, Hajiya Hafsa Abubakar who congratulated the Acting Executive Chairman on his appointment also expressed delight for the visit.
Abubakar said that she was confident that under the leadership of Mr Ango, the service would continue to make significant strides by ensuring that the FCT stands out as an example for efficiency, effectiveness and integrity in revenue generation.
She explained that NFIU is the central national authority responsible for receiving reports from a broad range of local and foreign entities, analysing these reports and producing intelligence adding that this intelligence is shared with law enforcement and security agencies as well as other authorities in order to combat crimes.
According to her, the NFIU recognises that tax crimes particularly tax evasion is a serious offence, because it denies the government the resources it needs to invest in infrastructure and pay for services that contribute to wellbeing and prosperity of citizenry.
“We also recognise that this issue is particularly important at the sub national level due to the huge demand of public investment particularly health, education and social services, this led to our decision to explore partnerships with state internal revenue services.
” I am pleased that the FCT-IRS is one of our first and indeed our most effective partner in this regard. The relationship we established with your office serves as a groundbreaking model and we are now working with about 24 other state revenue services, we believe our efforts is making a significant contribution to domestic revenue mobilisation across the federation” she stated.
She said her agency would be willing to tap from the experience and knowledge of the Acting Executive Chairman in law, taxation and other areas of expertise to further enhance their operations.
Olusola Akintonde
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