Another 200 Service members are being trained in tax audit and investigation by the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
This is consistent with the Service’s objective to improve income production in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) steadily through developing the capacity of officials.
The Acting Executive Chairman, FCT- IRS, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi, explained that this training couldn’t have come at a better time than now as all efforts are geared towards harmonizing all revenues and centralizing collection to the FCT-IRS, which is why it’s necessary to have.
This was continued in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja by Mustapha SumailaHead, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS.
He said this year’s training would bring the total to 400 so far on this collaboration, as 200 personnel were trained last year, stressing that the Service under his leadership would continue to partner with relevant professional bodies within and outside the country to enhance the productivity of the workforce.
According to him, tax officials need technical and verbal skills to effectively audit and interact with taxpayers especially the High Network Individuals and Politically Exposed Persons to boost compliance.
“The responsibility of the Service is key to the success of the FCT Administration therefore, skillful tax men are needed to rapidly grow the tax net especially now that expectations are high on revenue generating agencies.
“I urge you to listen attentively and participate fully in this course, when you come out of this training, it is expected you make meaningful contributions and add value to what we are doing, that is the essence of you being here”.
Meanwhile, the Director, Human Capital Management and Development FCT-IRS, Mr. Umar Mohammed Jada in his address said the Service would continue to partner with professional bodies like CITN to build the capacity of its personnel adding that FCT-IRS prioritises training and retraining of all staff in order to constantly improve service delivery and achieve the set goals and objectives of the Service.
The training is focusing on Tax Intelligence and Information Gathering, as well as Tax Audit and Investigation.
Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), the Principal of the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has sanitized the Program, PAP has said.
While urging the general public to disregard the claims of “mischief makers” despite instances of misinformation and negative being “sponsored” in the media.
According to a statement released on Monday in Abuja by Freston Akpor, S.A. Media to the PAP Interim Administrator, Ndiomu, who took office on September 19 of last year “inheriting several liabilities ranging from unpaid scholarship awards, unfinished vocational training centers, non-formal education programs, and a huge financial burden to contend with among other challenges,” has sanitized the PAP’s operations.
He cautioned those “faceless” individuals spreading misinformation across the media space with “an obvious intent to whip up negative public opinion against the leadership of the Programme” to refrain from such, adding that the media in Nigeria has evolved, and are considered critical tools to announce the efforts of the PAP in changing the socio-economic narrative of the Niger Delta region.
He explained that since Ndiomu came on board, he has strategically cleared all inherited debts through tactical financial models, some of the debts which included those that were owed to critical contractors and agencies, as well as scholarship debts.
“The PAP which has been watching with strong indignation the unsubstantiated statements attributed to some mischief makers hiding under pseudonyms, would have ordinarily not joined issues with faceless persons as such an exercise would only elevate the enterprise of those bad hats.
“However, the PAP needs to put the records straight to prevent stakeholders and the public from being exposed to and consuming the toxic narrative in the media space,” he said.
On strategic steps taken by General Ndiomu to reform the PAP, he said: “For instance, instead of cancelling the inconclusive scholarship awarded by his predecessor and initiating a fresh one as most persons would have done, General Ndiomu rather sanitized and adopted the process with payment of all fees of one thousand, seven hundred (1700) PAP students spread across tertiary institutions of learning across the country and an additional fifty-five (55) delegates going into their first year in various universities in different countries.
“This is in addition to one thousand three hundred (1300) students already deployed to various tertiary institutions within Nigeria and overseas in the previous year bringing the total number of students to three thousand (3000) whose scholarships covering tuition and In-Training-Allowance (ITA) have been paid in full by the administration of General Ndiomu for the 2022/2023 academic session”.
Akpor declared as “mischievous, uncharitable and ungodly”, insinuations that the current dispensation is yet to deploy delegates under the scholarship programme. He also reiterated efforts by the PAP to launch the Formal Education Trust Fund to boost the formal education scheme of the PAP.
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA, Engineer Shehu Ahmad Hadi has warned Trademore residents not to return to their flood prone houses.
Saying, the area has been declared a danger zone not good for habitation but for greens. The area is on a low line zone which is not safe. Flooding can come at anytime. They know this and have been experiencing it over the years”.
Hadi said most of structures are preventing water from flowing freely through its natural course which is responsible for flooding recorded in some parts of the city.
Engr Hadi who is also the Chairman , Special Ministerial Task team on flood mitigation stated the position of the Administration when he appeared as a guest on Channels Television Flagship program, Dateline Abuja at the weekend.
In his words, “People are clamoring that we act quickly and take tough decisions to save lives. And this is what we must do. We cannot act as though we don’t see this man-made problem caused by those who violate the Abuja master plan”.
Responding to questions from anchor Chinwe Kayla Megwa on recent Severe flooding at Trademore Estate which reportedly claimed two lives, Engineer Hadi dismissed as untrue allegation that the FCT Administration has not given those affected sufficient notices. “Buildings in trademore had been severally marked for demolition. Warnings have been given year after year. They just keep risking their lives and those of others”
“ The Police station in Trademore would be demolished. It would go alongside other buildings too. We have The Police station in Trademore would be demolished. It alongside other buildings would go. we have engaged the FCT Police command and have provided a suitable place for them to operate from and fight crime”
The Executive Secretary pointed out that trademore Estate did not have FCDA Approved building plan and the continuous flooded areas can best be left as Green areas and not residential.
Engineer Hadi noted that Trademore estate is just one of the Area in focus as other areas where structures are built on floodplains too would experience removal of illegal structures.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin, on Wednesday, joined other Muslim faithful at the National Eid ground in Abuja for Eid prayers.
Nigerian gospel film actor, producer and founder of film production company Mount Zion Faith Ministries, Mike Bamiloye, and his wife, Gloria, are marking their 35th wedding anniversary.
Bamiloye shared his wife’s picture on his Instagram page saying she still calls him Bro Mike even after years of marriage.
He promised to break the ‘jinx’ before their 40th wedding anniversary saying, “Before we married, when we were in Courtship, she has been calling me what the brethren in the Campus Christian Fellowship use to call me: “BRO MIKE”.
“That is what everybody in the Christian fellowship called me. And when we got Married, she didn’t stop calling me Bro Mike! Then we got our first son and we were shocked when the One Year old boy called me: “AA-AA-YITE!”
“We both tried to begin to call: SWEETIE! HONEY! BABY!, SWEET-HEART! MD!” It didn’t work out! One day, before my Mum (Big Sister) who had been fighting this, My wife wanted to prove to my Big Sister that we had tried our best to adjust. I was upstairs and she called me in the presence of my Mum: “HONEY!” SWEETIE!! SWEET-HEART!!” She called and called and Ir didn’t register that I was the one she was calling.
“I was hearing her voice but it never registered. Then she just called “BRO MIKE!” And I responded very loudly. And my Mum laughed! And that was it. And now, OUR MARRIAGE HAS BEEN 35 YEARS AND AND ALL OUR CHILDREN ARE MARRIED WITH CHILDREN AND SHE HAS NOT STOPPED CALLING: “BRO MIKE!” AND I HAVE NOT STOPPED RESPONDING!
“But I am going to break this jinx one day before our 40th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY! I promise you all, I will break the jinx before the Grand-Children begin to call me: “BRAAA-HIGHTEE!”
On Wednesday, Muslim devotees and President Bola Tinubu attended the Eid prayers at the Obalende Eid Prayer Ground at the Dodan Barracks in Lagos State.
He was welcomed by Chief Imam Suliman Abuo-Nolla, who conducted the Eid prayers, and was joined by other officials, including Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, and chief of staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
The decision to consolidate revenue and centralize collection to the FCT-Internal Income Service (FCT-IRS) is in the best interests of the territory and its residents,the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade has said
Olusade unveiled the tactical plan for assigning duties and responsibilities for revenue collection to the FCT-Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) during a stakeholder meeting in Abuja.
He explained that this choice was made after much deliberation, careful research, and a persistent dedication to enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of the territory’s tax collection system.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday June 21, 2023 he led other stakeholders in a public presentation of the Communique of the Resolution Retreat on the Harmonization of Revenue Collection in the FCTA.
According to him, in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja by the Head, Corporate Communications, FCT-IRS, Mustapha Sumaila stated that the reactions of the Citizens to the presentation were salutary and revealed their great expectations, some of whom felt that the effort should have taken place “yesterday”. Indeed, we have attained a “point of no return” in this shared journey to promote sanity in the Territory.
The permanent secretary noted that to ensure the successful execution of this delegation, they decided to adopt a Project Management approach saying this approach, renowned for its structured, organized, and systematic process, would guide them through this transition, providing a clear roadmap for their journey.
Olusade disclosed that at the helm of this project, there would be the Project Steering Committee (PSC) previously known as the Implementation Committee to be chaired by the Permanent Secretary, FCTA.
According to him, the committee will comprise the Chairmen of the Area Councils, the Chairman, FCT-IRS, Secretary EPRGPP, the DOT and GC, LSS.
He added that the policy decisions of the PSC would be implemented by the project implementation committee to be chaired by the Chairman, FCT-IRS while details of membership of the committee would be constituted and conveyed by the Chairman.
“The PSC composed of key stakeholders, has been reconstituted to provide strategic direction, make critical decisions and ensure that the project stays on track and achieves its objectives.
“Accordingly, the Project Steering Committee will have several key functions like strategic direction, decision making, monitoring and oversight, risk management and communication” he stated.
In his remarks, the FCT-IRS Acting Executive Chairman, Mr. Haruna Abdullahi said the delegation of all revenue collection duties and responsibilities to a single entity, FCT-IRS which decision was borne out of the resolutions of the “Akure Accord” which marked a significant step towards creating a more business-friendly environment that would attract investment, stimulate growth, and create job opportunities.
Abdullahi said this decision was a strategic move that would guarantee numerous benefits as it represented a significant step towards a more efficient, transparent, and effective revenue collection system, and a more prosperous FCT.
He said centralizing revenue collection under the FCT-IRS would eliminate the need for multiple entities to perform similar tasks and would reduce administrative overhead and allow for a more streamlined process.
According to him, it also ensures that all revenue collection activities are coordinated and aligned, reducing the potential for errors or oversights that could lead to lost revenue and this efficiency can also result in cost savings, as resources can be more effectively allocated and used.
The FCT-IRS boss further stated that when a single entity is responsible for revenue collection, it would be easier to maintain oversight and ensure accountability as all transactions would be recorded and processed in one place, making it simpler to track and audit.
He added that transparency could help to build trust with taxpayers, who would be confident that their payments are being handled correctly and responsibly.
“By simplifying the tax payment process, we can make it easier for businesses and individuals to comply with their tax obligations. This can reduce the time and resources they need to spend on tax-related activities, allowing them to focus more on their core operations. It can also make the FCT a more attractive place for businesses to operate, potentially attracting more investment and stimulating economic growth.
“Inefficient or fragmented revenue collection systems can lead to lost revenue, whether through errors, fraud, or non-compliance. By centralizing revenue collection with the FCT-IRS, we can address these issues more effectively, ensuring that all due revenue is collected. This can provide the FCT with more funds to invest in essential services and infrastructure, benefiting all residents.
“Having a single entity collect all revenues allows for better data collection and analysis. This can provide valuable insights into revenue trends, taxpayer behaviour, and potential areas of improvement in the tax system. It can also support more accurate revenue forecasting, helping the FCT to plan and budget more effectively” he said.
The FCT ALGON Chairman, Mr. Danladi Chiya pledged support and commitment to this harmonisation project saying that the six area council chairmen would work to ensure FCT-IRS succeeds in this its new mandate.
Chiya charged FCT-IRS and the Steering committee to swing into action and practicalise the process as quickly as possible.
The meeting was attended by heads and representatives of revenue generating agencies in the FCT.
Contrary to the news making rounds in one of the national dailies that the FCT ex Minister of State , Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu outrightly refused to return the official SUV Prado Jeep, said to be worth about N200 million used during the period she enjoyed some constitutional privileges, our correspondent gathered that the news was untrue.
According to one of the FCTA to management Officer who wants to remain anonymous said, the ex Minister returned all vehicles in her possession and were parked at the FCT Minister’s official log in Life Camp and the Director of Protocol took delivery of them.
The source further stated that, the ex Minister husband is a very well to do man and the wife has no reason whatsoever to refuse to return an official vehicle, this is just an attempt to discredit her.
The source further hinted that, her two aides in question, Special Assistants on Special Investment Programme (SIP) letter of appointment as FCT Focal Person expires in August and Special Assistant on Climate Change is one of staff of FCTA working in Development Control before her appointment.
Speaking on the issue of lobbying to become one of the president aides, he said, “she has been a diehard supporter of President Tinubu even when people were castigating him, she remained loyal to him, if the president deems it fit to reward her loyalty, I don’t see anything wrong in it.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised the alarm that scammers are on the prowl again, targeting top management of the administration.
Unscrupulous persons create social media accounts in the name of senior staff of the administration, with the intent to employ such accounts to lure unsuspecting members of the public into phantom contract deals or fake employment offers.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja by the Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement FCTA, Dr Jumia Ahmadu.
The statement reads: “In 24 hours, two LinkedIn accounts were opened using the names of staff of the FCTA, all with the aim of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
“One was in the name of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade.
“Another bore the name of the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed.
“This is to make it abundantly clear that neither the Permanent Secretary Mr Olusade nor the Executive Secretary, FCDA Engr. Ahmed has a LinkedIn account.
“The general public is hereby warned against responding to calls for tenders and/or employment openings in FCTA through the social media.
“It should be well known that government has well established procurement and employment processes which are not publicized through the social media.
“This is a scheme designed only to defraud.
“Reports have been made and security agencies are in the process of unveiling perpetrators of this felonious act.
“Don’t fall prey to scammers.You are warned!!!”, the statement further stated.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the six Area Councils have jointly designated the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) as the single revenue entity to collect all taxes and non-tax revenues collectible by both levels of government in the Territory in order to reduce revenue losses caused by inefficient revenue collection systems.
To this objective, the following data must be gathered and reported by the FCT-IRS: Market Taxes, Levies and Charges, howsoever Described; Business Premises, Shops and Kiosk Levy; Food and Water Related Handling Permit; Park & Pay/Street Parking; Wrong Parking Charges; Hotels, Restaurants and Event Centers Consumption Tax.
Additionally, places where the FCTA only has legal collecting obligations that were delegated to the FCT-IRS include: Environment fee or levy, Waste Management Charges, Sewage Connections, Environmental Impact/ Assessment Charges, howsoever described; Outdoor Advertisements, Mobile Advert and Signages, howsoever described; Telecommunication Mast and Communication Equipment, howsoever described and any other Revenue Heads to be so agreed from time to time by the FCTA.
However, Ground Rents, Tenement Rate and other Land Related Charges, howsoever described should be integrated into the Property Tax etc. Gaming and Betting, howsoever described; and any other Revenue Heads to be so agreed from time to time by the Joint Revenue Committee of the FCT.
This template was disclosed yesterday, at the press briefing on the resolutions reached at the Stakeholders’ Retreat on the harmonisation of revenue and ease of doing business in the FCT.
Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, who performed the official unveiling of the template at the event, said it was pursuant to the resolutions of the Retreat tagged: the “Akure Accord, which the immediate past FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, inaugurated the FCT Joint Revenue Committee chaired by the Chairman of the FCT IRS, Haruna Abdullahi.
Adesola added that the overarching outcome of the “Akure Accord” is the phasing out of technical partners from direct collection of revenues by Area Councils.
He said: “Accordingly, the FCTA and any of its Secretariat, Department and Agency (SDA) or other agents designated to identify, assess and account any revenue head for this resolution shall work collaboratively with the FCT-IRS towards the actualization of this objective including in the sharing of necessary data; and that the six FCT Area Councils shall where the respective Area Council alone has statutory collection responsibilities, review their affairs and could resolve on the extent of involvement of the FCT-IRS for their revenue collection.
“Officials of Government as applicable shall continue to perform their statutory responsibilities while harmonized revenues shall be collected on behalf of all by the FCT-IRS. Hence, the Area Councils shall progressively disarm all the “armed brigands” involved in revenue collection activities as soon as possible.
“Accordingly, each Area Council and any of their agents designated to Identify, Assess and Account for any revenue head for this resolution shall work collaboratively with the FCT-IRS towards the actualization of this objective including in the sharing of necessary data; that the Federal Capital Territory agree to delegate and hereby delegates duties and obligations for revenue heads where the FCTA only has statutory collection responsibilities to the FCT-IRS who shall serve as the single revenue entity to Collect and Report”.
He continues: “As we unveil the resolutions of the Akure Accord today, we reaffirm our commitment to working together to create a more business-friendly environment that attracts investment, stimulate growth, and create job opportunities.
“This is a significant step in the FCT, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of these resolutions on our economy and the well-being of our people. It is also imperative to solicit the cooperation of members of the tax paying public to cooperate with the Administration in its task of raising much needed revenue for the benefit of all and I call on the press to help spread this message of cooperation to the wider public.
“Let us move forward with a renewed hope and commitment to harmonize revenue collection and promote ease of doing business in the FCT, as we work towards building a thriving and sustainable economy that benefits all.”
Also speaking, FCT-IRS Executive Chairman, Haruna Abdullahi, who spoke through the Service’s Director, Tax operations, Malik Tukur, described the development as a pivotal moment in the history of the FCT, as it is in line with its vision for a more prosperous and business-friendly FCT.
“Together, we have drafted a communique that outlines the strategic direction and key actions needed to achieve our objectives. This document is a testament to the collaboration and dedication of all stakeholders involved. It symbolizes our commitment to working han d in hand to create a brighter future for businesses, investors, and citizens alike.
“As we embark on this transformative journey, we must be guided by a spirit of unity and shared responsibility. It is our collective effort that will bring about the positive change we all desire. We must be willing to embrace new ideas, engage in constructive dialogue, and make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the greater good”.
