By Danladi Ahmed
Abuja (FLOWERBUDNEWS): Celebrity fashion designer, popularly called Seyi Vodi, has advocated prompt payment of taxes to fast-track the actualisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and accelerate infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Vodi made the call during a visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) on Friday, where he filed his Annual Tax Return, a statement by Mustapha Sumailag, Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS has disclosed.
He urged business owners in the FCT and across the country to discharge their civic responsibility by voluntarily paying their taxes to facilitate the development of the territory and the nation at large.
According to him, tax payment remains a key driver of sustainable development, noting that increased compliance would further enhance the capacity of government to meet the developmental needs of citizens.
“It is noble to pay your taxes because this is the money the government uses for infrastructural development and the provision of public services to the people.
“I am urging my fellow business owners, especially tailors, to come forward and voluntarily discharge this civic responsibility for the progress of the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.
“I must commend the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for the giant strides recorded within two years in office. I have been a resident of the FCT for the past 25 years, since my NYSC days. I know what the FCT used to be and what it is today.
“The infrastructural development under the present FCT Minister is unprecedented, particularly in road construction and security. The projects are visible; only the blind would fail to see how the capital city has been transformed,” he stated.
In his remarks, the Acting Executive Chairman of the FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, commended the fashion designer for taking the bold step of voluntarily visiting the Service to file his Annual Tax Return without coercion.
Ango described Vodi’s action as worthy of emulation by other business owners and high-net-worth individuals in the FCT, noting that he is the first High Net-Worth Individual to file his Annual Tax Return for the year.
He further appealed to the celebrity to extend the campaign for voluntary tax compliance among his peers, encouraging them to come forward and fulfil their civic responsibility for the progress of the territory.
“The Minister has transformed Abuja into a world-class capital city, and citizens must support this progress by living up to their responsibilities so the FCT Administration will have adequate resources to do more,” he said.
Ango also pledged that the Service would present Vodi with a letter of commendation in recognition of his compliance as the first High Net-Worth Individual to file his Annual Tax Return this year.
