By Majeed Ishola
Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS): The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has sought collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to enhance tax compliance in the FCT.
The Acting Executive Chairman of the Service, Mr Michael Ango made the request during a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters on Wednesday in Abuja.
Mr. Ango said that the partnership was important because of the statutory roles of both agencies, a statement by Mustapha Sumaila, Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS disclosed.
Mr. Ango stated that the engagement with the EFCC was in line with mandate of the FCT-IRS to collaborate with agencies such as the EFCC towards improving tax compliance in the FCT.
He noted that one of the major initiatives of the FCT-IRS in 2025 is the harmonisation of revenue collection and administration in the FCT and to achieve this, the support and collaboration of all persons and agencies, such as the EFCC, would be required.
”This is to ensure that all revenue due to the FCT is collected and accounted for in a transparent manner and to enhance ease of doing business and improve revenue generation.
”This will further consolidate the massive infrastructural development in the FCT, by His Excellency, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, Honourable Minister of the FCT,” he reiterated.
Ango noted that most suspects being investigated by EFCC for financial crimes were not tax compliant and it would be helpful if such persons were interrogated as to their tax status and required to fulfil their tax obligations as part of the investigation process.
The FCT-IRS boss stated that this approach could also be extended to forfeitures of assets or monies of suspects to the EFCC by the Courts.
“When suspects are being investigated or charged to Court, we would like to know, Mr Chairman their compliance level, if they escape from one door, we can catch them through another door.
”We will therefore be happy to partner with you, like we are doing with your sister agency, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)” he stated.
Mr. Ango condoled with the EFCC on the recent loss of its operative and commended the EFCC Executive Chairman for the excellent work he and the Commission have been doing to tackle financial crimes in the country since he assumed duty as Chief Executive of the Commission.
In his remarks, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede thanked the FCT-IRS chairman and his team for the visit and expressed willingness to partner with the Service to improve revenue collection in the FCT.
Olukoyede said the that Commission is in partnership with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and other State Internal Revenue Services and therefore, would be willing to partner with the FCT-IRS to shore up its collections.
He noted the need to have a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to highlight the specific areas of collaboration, pointing out that such would further strengthen the relationship between the two organisations.
The EFCC Chairman further lauded the efforts of Mr. Michael Ango since his appointment as Acting Executive Chairman.
He said that he had been keeping following the achievements within the short period of time and also not surprised about the aggressive infrastructural development in the FCT carried out by the Honourable Minister of the FCT, which shows that taxpayer’s money is judiciously being used across the territory. (Flowerbudnews)
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Established by Hon. Biola Lawal, a former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), FLOWERBUDNEWS is a consortium of active veteran journalists, experienced Multimedia broadcast experts and image makers. We are drawn from both public and private sectors of Nigeria’s media Industry with a common determination to enhance the practice of responsible journalism.
Lawal, on his part, is also a former Honourable Commissioner for Information,Youth, Sports and Culture of Osun state, his home state.
Biola Lawal had also successfully served two tenures as Press Secretary to the ECOMOG Force Commander in Liberia during the Liberian and Sierra Leone Civil wars. He was an outstanding NAN Defence and War Correspondent for many years.
The retired NAN Acting Boss holds the honour of being the only journalist that served two terms on the ECOMOG international assignment due to his high professionalism and decency.
He is a Co-Author of the book; ECOMOG, A BOLD ATTEMPT AT REGIONAL PEACEKEEPING! Edited Mrs Magaret Voght. The book remains the most. factual, detailed and authentic book on the ECOWAS sponsored ECOMOG Military operation.
